USA-215

USA-215
Spacecraft properties

Mission type	Radar imaging
Operator	US NRO
COSPAR ID	2010-046A
SATCAT no.	37162


Spacecraft type	FIA Radar
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin


Start of mission
Launch date	21 September 2010, 04:03:30 (2010-09-21UTC04:03:30Z) UTC
Rocket	Atlas V 501 AV-025
Launch site	Vandenberg SLC-3E
Contractor	ULA


Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth (retrograde)
Perigee	1,105 kilometres (687 mi)^[1]
Apogee	1,116 kilometres (693 mi)^[1]
Inclination	122.99 degrees^[1]
Period	107.35 minutes^[1]
Epoch	23 January 2015, 06:05:42 UTC^[1]

USA-215, also known as NRO Launch 41 or NROL-41, is an American reconnaissance satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in 2010, it has been identified as the first in a new series of radar imaging satellites, developed as part of the Future Imagery Architecture programme,^[2] to replace the earlier Lacrosse spacecraft.

USA-215 was launched by an Atlas V carrier rocket, flying in the 501 configuration, operated by United Launch Alliance. The rocket was launched from Space Launch Complex 3E at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, at 04:03:30 UTC (09:03 PDT) on 21 September 2010.^[3] It was identified as NRO Launch 41, and was the twenty-third flight of an Atlas V; the vehicle had the tail number AV-025, and was named Gladys.^[4]

The satellite's orbit and mission are officially classified; however, it has been located by amateur observers in a retrograde low Earth orbit. As of 23 January 2015 it was in an orbit with a perigee of 1,105 kilometres (687 mi), an apogee of 1,116 kilometres (693 mi) and 122.99 degrees of inclination.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Peat, Chris (23 January 2015). "USA 215 - Orbit". Heavens-Above. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
↑ Krebs, Gunter. "FIA-Radar 1, 2, 3, 4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
↑ Ray, Justin (21 September 2010). "Atlas Launch Report - Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
↑ Krebs, Gunter. "NROL launches". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 April 2012.

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