 Artist's impression of a KH-11 satellite | |
| Mission type | Optical imaging |
|---|---|
| Operator | US National Reconnaissance Office |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-043A |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-11 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 August 2013, 18:03:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta IV Heavy D364 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Slot | West plane |
| Perigee | 300 kilometres (190 mi) |
| Apogee | 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) |
| Inclination | 98 degrees |
| Period | 97 minutes |
| Epoch | Typical |
USA-245 or NRO Launch 65 (NROL-65) is an American reconnaissance satellite which is operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in August 2013, it is the last KH-11 reconnaissance satellite, and the last spacecraft to be launched in the Keyhole program.[1]
Details of USA-245's mission are classified by the US military, however numerous independent analysts identified it as a KH-11 before launch, and amateur satellite watchers have since observed it in the orbit used by such satellites.[2][3] KH-11 satellites are used to provide high-resolution optical and infrared imagery for US intelligence agencies.[4]
USA-245 was launched by United Launch Alliance, using a Delta IV Heavy rocket[5] with the flight number Delta 364 and the name Victoria. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 6 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base at 18:03 UTC (11:03 local time) on 28 August 2013.[6] After deploying its payload, the rocket's upper stage was deorbited after completing one orbit.[1] The launch was the first Delta IV mission to use a new ignition sequence aimed at reducing damage to the first stage insulation caused by igniting a cloud of hydrogen around the vehicle at liftoff. To mitigate this, the rocket's starboard engine was lit two seconds earlier than on previous flights.[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Graham, William (28 August 2013). "ULA Delta IV-H launches with NROL-65". NASASpaceflight.com. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/08/ula-delta-iv-h-launch-nrol-65/. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Molczan, Ted (28 August 2013). "RE: NROL-65 search elements". Seesat-L. http://satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2013/0184.html. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Langbroek, Marco (28 August 2013). "NROL-65 seen". Seesat-L. http://satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2013/0188.html. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "KH-11 / Kennen / Crystal". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kh-11.htm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ "National Reconnaissance Office Mission Successfully Launches on World's Largest Rocket, the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy". United Launch Alliance. 28 August 2013. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/152/. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Ray, Justin (28 August 2013). "Delta Launch Report - Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d364/status.html. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ Ray, Justin (25 August 2013). "America's largest rocket set for launch Wednesday". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d364/preview.html. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
The original article can be found at USA-245 and the edit history here.