USA-229, known before launch as NRO Launch 34 (NROL-34), is a pair of American signals intelligence satellites which were launched in 2011. They are operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office.
| Names | NROL-34 NRO Launch 34 NOSS-3 5A and 5B Intruder 9A and 9B |
|---|---|
| Mission type | SIGINT |
| Operator | United States NRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2011-014A |
| SATCAT no. | 37386 and 37391 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | NOSS-3 5 (3rd Generation) |
| Spacecraft type | Intruder |
| Bus | NOSS-3 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 3250 kg (each) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 April 2011, at 04:24 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 411 (AV-027) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-3E |
| Contractor | ULA |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 1015 km |
| Apogee altitude | 1207 km |
| Inclination | 63.46° [1] |
Both satellites were deployed by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 411 launch vehicle, which launched from SLC-3E at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch occurred at 04:24 UTC on 15 April 2011.[2] The rocket placed the satellites into a low Earth orbit. By 04:29 UTC, official updates on the status of the spacecraft had been discontinued.[3]
Whilst details of the satellites and their missions are officially classified, amateur observers have identified that the Atlas V deployed two satellites, one of which has officially been catalogued as debris. The two spacecraft have been identified as being a pair of third or fourth generation Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites.[4] Amateur observations have located the spacecraft in an orbit with a perigee of 1,015 kilometres (631 mi) and an apogee of 1,207 kilometres (750 mi), inclined at 63.46° to the plane of the equator.[2] Current generation NOSS satellites are always launched and operated in pairs,[5] and are used to locate and track ships and aircraft from the radio transmissions that they emit.[6]
References
edit- ^ Molczan, Ted (24 April 2011). "NROL-34: NOSS 3-5 elements". SatObs.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Issue 640". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Ray, Justin. "Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Ted, Molczan (17 April 2011). "NROL-34 - NOSS 3-5 pair spotted tonight from Austin, Texas". Satobs. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "NOSS-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Ray, Justin (18 April 2011). "Observers confirm identity of last week's Atlas payload". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
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