USA-202

Last updated
USA-202
USA202 Thuraya2.jpg
USA 202 and Thuraya 2, photographed on 8 December 2010 from the Netherlands.
Mission type ELINT
Operator NRO
COSPAR ID 2009-001A
SATCAT no. 33490
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Orion
Start of mission
Launch date18 January 2009, 02:47 (2009-01-18UTC02:47Z) UTC
Rocket Delta IV Heavy
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
Contractor United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geosynchronous
Longitude44° east [1]
Perigee altitude 35,777 kilometers (22,231 mi)
Apogee altitude 35,809 kilometers (22,251 mi)
Inclination 3.69 degrees
Period 23.93 hours
Epoch 1 January 2014, 15:43:08 UTC [2]
NROL26 USA202 patch.jpg  

USA 202, [3] previously NRO Launch 26 or NROL-26, is a classified spacecraft which is operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. It is an Advanced Orion ELINT satellite. According to Aviation Week, it "fundamentally involves America's biggest, most secret and expensive military spacecraft on board the world's largest rocket." [4] The combined cost of the spacecraft and launch vehicle has been estimated to be over US$2 billion. [4]

Contents

Amateur astronomer observations suspected the satellite was eavesdropping on Thuraya 2 and this was reported to be confirmed by documents released on Sep 9, 2016 [5] by The Intercept as part of the Snowden Files. [6]

Launch

USA-202 was launched from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on the third flight of a Delta IV Heavy rocket. The launch was originally scheduled for 2005, but was delayed due to a number of issues, and lift-off took place at 02:47 GMT on 18 January 2009. [7]

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USA-223, known before launch as NRO Launch 32, is an American reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 2010. It is operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. It presently holds the record for being the largest spy satellite ever launched.

USA-225

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USA-227, known before launch as NRO Launch 27 (NROL-27), is an American communications satellite which was launched in 2011. It is operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office.

USA-184, also known as NRO Launch 22 or NROL-22, is an American signals intelligence satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in 2006, it has been identified as the first in a new series of satellites which are replacing the earlier Trumpet spacecraft.

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USA-198, known before launch as NRO Launch 24 (NROL-24), is an American communications satellite that was launched in 2007.

References

  1. "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  2. Peat, Chris (1 January 2014). "USA 202 - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Issue 605". Jonathan's Space Report . Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  4. 1 2 "NRO Delays Delta IV Heavy Launch". Aviation Week. Dec 10, 2008.
  5. "Documents". The Intercept.
  6. "The Space Review: A Nemesis in the Sky: PAN, MENTOR 4". The Space Review.
  7. "First ULA Delta IV Heavy NRO Mission Successfully Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral". ULA. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16.