USA 224 Mil Recon Satellite Intercept

Our friend Paul Marsh, M0EYT, has posted up an FFT screenshot from a pass over his UK location od USA 224/NROL-49. The advanced KH-11 (KH-12) recon milsat uses a SGLS downlink on a center frequency of 2242.518~MHz (SGLS channel 9). Paul says the signal is pretty strong, and it also has PSK sidebands +/- 1.024 MHz from the carrier. You can view his FFT at http://pjm.dyndns.org/sdr/usa224a.jpg

US Spy Satellite USA 193/NROL-21 Update 2/2/2008

Ted Molzcan on the SEESAT group has posted a new element set for this ill-fated American radar imaging spy atellite. Here are updated elements:





USA 193 5.0 2.5 0.0 4.3 v 267 X 275 km
1 29651U 06057A 08032.26673860 .00108121 00000-0 19426-3 0 03
2 29651 58.4892 115.4602 0006491 79.8395 280.3436 16.01043930 04
Arc 2008 Jan 30.29 - Feb 01.29, WRMS residuals = 0.029 deg

Definition of 2-line elements format posted above can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/SSOP
_Help/tle_def.html

Using Satevo v0.51 with a 10.7 cm solar flux of 71, results in a decay prediction for USA 193 of March 29, 2008, in line with earlier estimates. The uncertainty is at least one week.

Ted has updated the standard visual magnitude calculation:
http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/06057A/06057A_stdmag_6.jpg

Results are unchanged: mag 4.3 +/- 2, at range 1000 km, phase angle 90 deg. Co-efficient of phase = 1.26 mag/rad (0.0220 mag/deg).

And on a personal note, I am pleased to welcome Ms Angela Gunn, the Tech-Space guru and blooger at USA Today, as a reader of this blog. Thanks for the kind words Angela and keep that hard hat within reach. Now if we can get the Alpha Centaurians to groove out on the Beatles. For more on this tidbit, see my story on the Beatles and space my personal blog - BMP at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2008/02/beatles-will-be-beaming-to-polaris.html

NROL-24 Launch Today - Possible SDS Commsat

Based on latest public information from the Cape, the launch of NROL-24 is still on. Launch time is 1704 EST (2204 UTC) from launch complex 41.

The following information was posted by the dean of the visual satellite observers -Ted Molczan on the SEESAT-L newsgroup late last night. Very interesting observation and thanks Ted for the insight.

NROL-24 is scheduled for launch on 2007 Dec 10, between 21:15 and 23:15 UTC, on an Atlas V-401 (Production number AV-015). The Atlas 5 401 configuration is a 4-meter wide payload fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a Centaur upper stage powered by a single RL10A-4-2 engine.

The most likely target plane appears to be that of 90028 / 04846A, believed to be an aging SDS communications satellite:

1 90028U 04846A 07319.29116097 .00001407 00000-0 46120-2 0 06
2 90028 64.2504 305.9703 7445669 256.2170 103.7830 2.00633719 06

The most recent similar launch was NROL-1, aka USA 179 / SDS 3-4 / 04034A / 28384, on 2004 Aug 31, on an Atlas 2AS.

An exact repeat of NROL-1's launch, but targeting 90028, would result in launch on 2007 Dec 10 at about 21:57:28 UTC and the following orbits:

MES2
1 79000U 07344.96253472 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 05
2 79000 57.3981 308.5215 0001000 113.4954 176.8000 16.05000000 07

1st ascending node
1 79001U 07344.97396991 .00017925 00000-0 14828-2 0 00
2 79001 57.3981 308.5150 5327478 293.4985 20.3013 5.13214280 05

USA 179 remained in the 5.13 rev/d intermediate orbit for about 7 days, before manoeuvring to its Molniya orbit.

Since NROL-24's booster has about 35 percent greater performance than that of
NROL-1, it may not follow the same initial trajectories. Perhaps it will steer into some combination of a more nearly 63 deg initial orbit and a MECO2 orbit of much greater apogee. Upon receipt of the actual planned launch time, I will revise the above search elements, and possibly add others to help bracket the search.

The ascent trajectory will be north-eastward along the east coast of North America. If the launch occurs after sunset, as seems likely, then I will post estimated trajectory information.

The launch period is such that visual observers in parts of North America may be able to observe the Centaur's propellant dump soon after MECO2, as occurred with NROL-1.

And from Bob Christy via the SEESAT newsgroup:

USA-125/90028 is a second-generation SDS satellite. It is a spin-stabilised design with a de-spun aerial array.

Another piece of evidence that the upcoming NROL-24 is a replacement for this satellite comes from the fact that the de-spin mechanism of 90028 seems to have been turned off quite recently. The array is currently (2007 Dec 7, 16:00 UTC) rotating once every 19.8s. If it follows the lead of 90004 and 90020, friction will cause it to spin up and match the body with a rotation period near 5s.

90004 and 90020 each reportedly show visual variability with a 5s component in their light curves. 90028 may join them in this.

The evidence for the spin-up comes from radio observation. It was originally reported by Greg Roberts of South Africa 2007 Dec 7 and I confirmed it from the UK thanks to Greg's timely 'heads-up'.

Latest USA-193 Element Set

Below courtesy of Ted Molczan and the SEESAT-L newsgroup:

USA 193 5.0 2.5 0.0 4.2 v
1 29651U 06057A 07012.69691925 .00019503 00000-0 15509-3 0 02
2 29651 58.4987 356.4057 0008821 89.8952 270.3144 15.70648197 05
Arc 2007 Jan 11.05 - 12.71, WRMS residuals = 0.012 deg

This result is based on a new observation, by Alberto Rango:
29651 06 057A 4541 G 20070112165621400 17 24 0609520+102040 28 S+045 05

SBIRS instructors hold keys to ground floor of new payload

Author's Note: I have additional coverage in this military satellite system at:
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2006/11/on-orbit-checkout-of-sbirs-payload.html

by Staff Sgt. Don Branum
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

1/10/2007 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNEWS) -- Future Space Based Infrared System crews will get in on the ground level of Air Force Space Command's most advanced payload when they begin training at the 460th Operations Group's Detachment 1 on Jan. 12.

Training on SBIRS' newest satellite will give students a historic chance to involve themselves with a new mission at the ground level, said Capt. Paul Contoveros, Det. 1's chief of operations training and lead instructor.

"I think we're all really excited to be part of such a new, groundbreaking system," Captain Contoveros said. "It's a once-in-a-career opportunity.

"We'll be providing some of the most accurate missile warning data once this is complete -- even better than (the Defense Support Program satellite system)," he added. "DSP's a proven system, extremely useful. This will be a step above that; it will provide more honed, more accurate data."

The SBIRS satellite is parked in an inclined and highly elliptical orbit, which carries it from 300 miles above the earth to geosynchronous orbit and back every 12 hours. This gives operators better data at higher latitudes on the earth's surface. It is also more sensitive, allowing Airmen to detect fainter missile launches and pinpoint them with greater accuracy.

"In addition, we have a taskable sensor," Captain Contoveros said. "We can point the sensor wherever we like to capture targets of opportunity." The taskable sensor makes the new SBIRS satellite unique within AFSPC, something the captain said he hopes students will enjoy.

Ten Airmen from around AFSPC, many of them cross-trainees, will begin training on SBIRS. Training will begin Jan.12 for crew commanders and crew chiefs. System crew chiefs and mission-management operators and planners will begin training Jan. 16.

Each position will learn something different in the class, Captain Contoveros said. System crew chiefs will learn the ins and outs of the payload and ground system. Mission crew chiefs will learn how to translate technical data from the satellite into missile warning and battlespace situational awareness. Mission-management operators and planners will learn how to use the taskable sensor. Crew commanders will learn all other aspects of the mission and how to combine the parts into an effective team.

"We're working closely with our partners at the (SBIRS) Combined Task Force (in northern Colorado)," the captain said. Students will visit the task force for one week to learn what aspects of SBIRS have changed since the Det. 1 instructors finished their lesson plan. The instructors meet once a week with the Combined Task Force to talk about new SBIRS developments.

"The training will continue to evolve because we're still in a testing phase," he said. "Things change from day to day. Software continues to be honed. Testing continues to be successful, and as testing is successful, new tests begin, and procedures and software change depending on the results."

The new SBIRS satellite received a clean bill of health in November after space operators completed initial early on-orbit checkout of the satellite's systems.

The sensor is designed to detect ballistic missile launches such as ICBMs and Scud missiles. It can also detect large explosions and fires, which may make it a valuable tool for other government agencies.

A second highly elliptical-orbit satellite was delivered in September 2005; the launch date has not been released. Two SBIRS geosynchronous satellites are scheduled to launch in 2008 and 2009.

Expensive new U.S. spy satellite USA193/NROL-21 not working: sources

Author Note: So much for the theory by some that these US government satellites get their USA ### designation when they become operational. This mission a subsequent failure would indicate that theory is not correct. I originally reported on this satellite in this blog on December 16, 2006.

This satellite was USA-193/NROL-21 launched on December 13, 2006, at 2100 UTC (1600 EST) from the Western Test Range, Vandenberg AFB, California (Launch complex/pad: SLC2W) It carries an International Designator: 2006-057A (SSC #: 29651).

Many thanks to Ted Molczan and the SEESAT-L newsgroup for this heads up.

Here is an excerpt from the Reuters news article that broke this story.

By Andrea Shalal-Esa - Exclusive

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials are unable to communicate with an expensive experimental U.S. spy satellite launched last year by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), a defense official and another source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Efforts are continuing to reestablish communication with the classified satellite, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but "the prognosis is not great at this point," said the defense official, who asked not to be identified.

"They have not yet declared it a total loss. There are still some additional steps that can be taken to restore communication," the official added, noting some satellites had been recovered in similar situations in the past.

The official said the problems were substantial and involved multiple systems, adding that U.S. officials were working to reestablish contact with the satellite because of the importance of the new technology it was meant to test and demonstrate.

The other source said the satellite had been described to him as "a comprehensive failure."