| Operator | Classified |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | Lockheed Martin[1] ULA (LSP) |
| Bus | A2100 |
| Mission type | Communications |
| Launch date | 8 September 2009 21:35 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Atlas V 401 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
USA-207,[2], international COSPAR code 2009-047A,[3] also known as PAN, officially meaning Palladium At Night,[4] or P360[5] is a classified American communications satellite,[6] which was launched in September 2009. The US government has not confirmed which of its intelligence agencies will operate the satellite.[7] The spacecraft was constructed by Lockheed Martin, and is based on the A2100 satellite bus,[4] using commercial off-the-shelf components.[5] The contract to build PAN was awarded in October 2006, with the satellite initially scheduled to launch 30 months later, in March 2009.[8]
PAN was launched by United Launch Alliance using an Atlas V 401 carrier rocket, with the serial number AV-018. The launch, from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, occurred at 21:35 GMT on 8 September 2009, at the start of a 129 minute launch window.[9] PAN successfully separated from the rocket just under two hours after liftoff.[10]
PAN has shown an unusual history of frequent relocations, moving between at least four different orbital slots since launch: as of early May 2011 it is located at 44.9 deg E.[11], over East Africa.
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