Orion (satellite)

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File:Orion MENTOR4 (USA-202).jpg
Artist's impression of the Orion Mentor-4 (USA-202) Signals Intelligence Satellite launched in January 2009

Orion, also known as Mentor or Advanced Orion,[1] 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), eight have been launched from Cape Canaveral on Titan IV and Delta IV launch vehicles since 1995.

Description

These satellites at geostationary orbits collect radio emissions (SIGINT) and act as replacements for the older constellation of Magnum satellites. The satellites have estimated mass close to 5,200 kg and very large (estimated 100 m diameter)[2] radio reflecting dishes. USA-223 (NROL-32), which is seen as the fifth satellite in the series, is according to NRO director Bruce Carlson "the largest satellite in the world."[3] It is believed that this refers to the diameter of the main antenna, which might be well in excess of Template:Cvt.[4] The mission and capabilities of these satellites are highly classified, though targets may include telemetry, VHF radio, cellular mobile phones, paging signals, and mobile data links.[5] Earlier satellites with similar missions, the Rhyolite/Aquacade series, were built by TRW; it is not known who made the Orion satellites.[6]

Satellites

Mentor-4 (USA-202) deployment and initial westward drift after launch in January 2009 was controlled by the Pine Gap base. About 60 days after launch Menwith Hill Ground Station was to take over control and initiate the collection mission. Mentor-4's initial mission was to survey line-of-sight microwave towers and emitters in the People's Republic of China for 30 to 45 days as it was drifting from east to west. Moving further west, it was to collect data from the Thuraya network and monitor Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by another 200 days of monitoring of China. This was to be followed by data collection covering the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Latin America.[7][8]

Name COSPAR ID Launch date
(UTC) 		Launch vehicle Launch site Launch
designation 		Longitude Remarks
USA-110 Template:COSPAR 14 May 1995
13:45:01[1]		 Titan IV(401)A CCSFS, SLC-40 N/A 127° E [4] MENTOR 1
USA-139 Template:COSPAR 9 May 1998
01:38:01[1]		 Titan IV(401)B CCSFS, SLC-40 NROL-6 44° E (1998–2009)
14.5°W (2009–) [4]		 MENTOR 2
USA-171 Template:COSPAR 9 September 2003
04:29:00[1]		 Titan IV(401)B CCSFS, SLC-40 NROL-19 95.5° E [4] MENTOR 3
USA-202 Template:COSPAR 18 January 2009
02:47:00[1]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-26 44° E [4] MENTOR 4
USA-223 Template:COSPAR 21 November 2010
22:58:00[1]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-32 100.9° E [9] MENTOR 5
USA-237 Template:COSPAR 29 June 2012
13:15:00[1]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-15 89.21° E [10] MENTOR 6
USA-268 Template:COSPAR 11 June 2016
17:51:00[1]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-37 104.18° E [10] MENTOR 7
USA-311 Template:COSPAR 11 December 2020
01:09[11]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-44 51° E[12] MENTOR 8
USA-345 Template:COSPAR 22 June 2023
09:18[13]		 Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-68 MENTOR 9
USA-353 Template:COSPAR 9 April 2024

16:53[14]

Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-70

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  6. ↑ Jonathan's Space Report No. 369. Template:Webarchive (1998-08-22).
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External links

Template:National Reconnaissance Office Template:US Reconnaissance Satellites Template:Orbital launches in 2003 Template:Orbital launches in 2009 Template:Orbital launches in 2010 Template:Orbital launches in 2012 Template:Orbital launches in 2016 Template:Orbital launches in 2020 Template:Orbital launches in 2023

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