Orion (satellite)

USA-202 shows up as a magnitude +8 "star" in this image. Note how the real stars are trailed in this 10 second exposure: the geostationary satellite is pinpoint.

USA-223 (NROL-32), the fifth "Mentor" satellite, atop a Delta IV rocket

USA-202 and the nearby commercial geostationary satellite Thuraya 2

Orion, also known as Mentor or Advanced Orion, is a class of United States spy satellites that collect signals intelligence (SIGINT) from space. Operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and developed with input from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), five have been launched from Cape Canaveral on Titan IV and Delta IV rockets since 1995. These satellites collect radio emissions (SIGINT) from geostationary orbits and act as replacements for the older constellation of Magnum satellites. Observers estimate the satellites weigh close to 5,200 kg and have very large (estimated 100 m diameter)^[1] radio reflecting dishes. NRO L-32, which is seen as the fifth satellite in the series, is according to NRO director Bruce Carlson "(...) the largest satellite in the world".^[2] It is believed that this refers to the diameter of the main antenna, which might be well in excess of 100 m (330 ft).^[3] The mission and capabilities of these satellites are highly classified. Earlier satellites with similar missions, the Rhyolite/Aquacade series, were built by TRW; it is not known who made the Orion satellites.^[4]

Satellites

References

1. ↑ Spy satellites of the NSA (fr)
2. ↑ Bruce Carlson (2010-09-13). "National Reconnaissance Office Update". Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-25. 
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 William Graham (2010-11-21). "Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2010-11-22. 
4. ↑ Jonathan's space report No. 369 (1998-08-22)
5. ↑ T. Flohrer, R. Choc, and B. Bastida (February 2011). "CLASSIFICATION OF GEOSYNCHRONOUS OBJECTS ISSUE 13". ESA. 

External links

• Advanced Orion at Encyclopedia Astronautica
• Globalsecurity- Magnum/ Mentor/ Orion

v t e United States reconnaissance satellites IMINT Photographic KH-1 Corona KH-2 Corona KH-3 Corona KH-4A Corona KH-4B Corona KH-5 Argon KH-6 Lanyard KH-7 Gambit KH-8 Gambit 3 KH-9 Hexagon KH-10 Dorian Electro-optical Samos KH-11 Kennan Misty Enhanced Imaging System Synthetic aperture radar Quill Lacrosse FIA Infrared   SIGINT Low Earth orbit GRAB Poppy White Cloud Samos-F Highly elliptical orbit Jumpseat Trumpet Geosynchronous Earth orbit Canyon Magnum Mentor Mercury Rhyolite/Aquacade Vortex MASINT Primary mission FORTE GPS DMSP Vela Secondary mission MIDAS DSP SBIRS STSS Research and development Primary mission MiTEx Secondary mission   Unknown USA number USA-193