Orion (satellite)

Artist's impression of the Orion MENTOR4 (USA-202) Signals Intelligence Satellite launched in January 2009

USA-202 shows up as a magnitude +8 "star" in this image. Note how the real stars are trailed in this 10 second exposure: the geostationary satellite is pinpoint.

USA-223 (NROL-32), the fifth "Mentor" satellite, atop a Delta IV rocket

USA-202 and the nearby commercial geostationary satellite Thuraya 2

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), five have been launched from Cape Canaveral on Titan IV and Delta IV rockets since 1995.

These satellites collect radio emissions (SIGINT) from geostationary orbits and act as replacements for the older constellation of Magnum satellites. Observers estimate the satellites weigh close to 5,200 kg and have very large (estimated 100 m diameter)^[2] radio reflecting dishes. NRO L-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 100 m (330 ft).^[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 Alice Springs Mission Ground Station. 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 the PRC. This was to be followed by data collection covering the middle East, Northern Africa, and Latin America.^[7]^[8]

Name	COSPAR ID SATCAT №	Launch date (UTC)	Launch vehicle	Launch site	Launch designation	Longitude	Remarks
USA-110	1995-022A	14 May 1995 13:45:01	Titan IV(401)A	CCAFS SLC-40	N/A	127°E^[4]	MENTOR 1^[1]
USA-139	1998-029A	9 May 1998 01:38:01	Titan IV(401)B	CCAFS SLC-40	NROL-6	44°E (1998–2009) 14.5°W (2009—)^[4]	MENTOR 2^[1]
USA-171	2003-041A	9 September 2003 04:29:00	Titan IV(401)B	CCAFS SLC-40	NROL-19	95.5°E^[4]	MENTOR 3^[1]
USA-202	2009-001A	18 January 2009 02:47	Delta IV Heavy	CCAFS SLC-37B	NROL-26	44°E^[4]	MENTOR 4^[1]
USA-223	2010-063A	21 November 2010 22:58:00	Delta IV Heavy	CCAFS SLC-37B	NROL-32	100.9°E^[9]	MENTOR 5^[1]
USA-237	2012-034A	29 June 2012 13:15	Delta IV Heavy	CCAFS SLC-37B	NROL-15		MENTOR 6^[1]
USA-268	2016-036A	11 June 2016 17:51	Delta IV Heavy	CCAFS SLC-37B	NROL-37		MENTOR 7^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Justin Ray (11 June 2016). "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
↑ Spy satellites of the NSA (fr)
↑ Bruce Carlson (2010-09-13). "National Reconnaissance Office Update" (PDF). Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
1 2 3 4 5 William Graham (2010-11-21). "Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
↑ Campbell, Duncan (April 1999). "STOA Report: Interception Capabilities 2000".
↑ Jonathan's space report No. 369 (1998-08-22)
↑ "Two New Collection Assets to Greatly Expand MHS Target Coverage". National Security Agency. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
↑ Marco Langbroek (31 October 2016). "A NEMESIS in the sky: PAN, MENTOR 4, and close encounters of the SIGINT kind". The Space Review. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
↑ T. Flohrer; R. Choc & B. Bastida (February 2011). "CLASSIFICATION OF GEOSYNCHRONOUS OBJECTS ISSUE 13" (PDF). ESA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-13.

External links

Advanced Orion at Encyclopedia Astronautica
Magnum/ Mentor/ Orion at Globalsecurity.org
The USA 202 ORION satellite

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[sfn-20160611-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Justin Ray (11 June 2016). "Triple-barrel Delta 4-Heavy launches national security satellite". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 June 2016.

[2] Spy satellites of the NSA (fr)

[afa100913-3] Bruce Carlson (2010-09-13). "National Reconnaissance Office Update" (PDF). Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-25.

[NASASpaceFlight101119-4] 1 2 3 4 5 William Graham (2010-11-21). "Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-32". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2010-11-22.

[5] Campbell, Duncan (April 1999). "STOA Report: Interception Capabilities 2000".

[6] Jonathan's space report No. 369 (1998-08-22)

[Mission7600-7] "Two New Collection Assets to Greatly Expand MHS Target Coverage". National Security Agency. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2017-05-04.

[TSR20161031-8] Marco Langbroek (31 October 2016). "A NEMESIS in the sky: PAN, MENTOR 4, and close encounters of the SIGINT kind". The Space Review. Retrieved 5 May 2017.

[GEN-DB-LOG-00074-OPS-GR-9] T. Flohrer; R. Choc & B. Bastida (February 2011). "CLASSIFICATION OF GEOSYNCHRONOUS OBJECTS ISSUE 13" (PDF). ESA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-13.