Would you speculate at all on your own thoughts what it might be?
Quote from: Star One on 05/24/2017 08:32 pmWould you speculate at all on your own thoughts what it might be?I can only guess "experimental". Beyond that I am at a loss. - Ed Kyle
Ball has also done radar sats.
I have found that on June 4, USA 276 will in fact be very close by when (if all goes according to plan) the SpaceX DRAGON CRS-11 should arive at the ISS at this date. That is, if USA 276 doesn't change its current orbit before then.
Due to slightly different rates of precession of their orbital nodes, the orbits will slowly diverge from their current close coincidence over time, unless USA 276 makes a corrective manoeuvre.I have pondered the question whether this all is coincidental or not. While I can in fact think of a potential goal where this all would be on purpose, that would be a very wild thing to do, so perhaps it is not so likely. For the moment, let's better chalk it up to coincidence until new developments seem to point otherwise.
Is that a mirror of https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/05/observing-usa-276-odd-nrol-76-payload.html
And mason jars (does that joke ever get old? Nope.)
Cross posting this as it has only been been posted in the update thread. Strange it appears to be not far from ISS. Perhaps they need a payload that can observe space stations.QuoteI have found that on June 4, USA 276 will in fact be very close by when (if all goes according to plan) the SpaceX DRAGON CRS-11 should arive at the ISS at this date. That is, if USA 276 doesn't change its current orbit before then.QuoteDue to slightly different rates of precession of their orbital nodes, the orbits will slowly diverge from their current close coincidence over time, unless USA 276 makes a corrective manoeuvre.I have pondered the question whether this all is coincidental or not. While I can in fact think of a potential goal where this all would be on purpose, that would be a very wild thing to do, so perhaps it is not so likely. For the moment, let's better chalk it up to coincidence until new developments seem to point otherwise.https://sattrackcam.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/observing-usa-276-odd-nrol-76-payload.html?m=1
Okay, throwing this out here, while fully acknowledging that the idea is quite outlandish.The "wild" thing I have been contemplating (as mentioned on my blog quoted above), and please note that this is *very speculative* and add copious grains of salt, is that perhaps USA 276 is a technology demonstrator of a satellite designed to monitor close approaches and berthings in LEO in high detail. The Russians and Chinese have been experimenting the past years with payloads that approach each other and perhaps grapple each other. Maybe USA 276 is a demonstrator of a satellite system meant to monitor that in detail, either optical or by radar, in order to assess what they are doing exactly.As far as a demonstration mission (i.e. "proof of concept") goes, ISS and the frequent dockings and berthings and grapplings of cargo ships there would be good test targets, as it concerns known situations (so make good test cases). It also means you don't have to launch test objects yourself - saves money, saves development time, and saves attention.Still, that would be a bit of a wild thing to do, also because the ISS is not US but international, so quite sensitive to do something like this. So regard this as a *very* wild idea only - it is perhaps not at all that likely and most likely a true fidget of my imagination.- Marco
I've seen it noted it's quite a bright object from the ground and therefore I wonder if it's more likely using radar to observe as it's the sun catching the array?
I've entertained the idea of this being an ISS observing mission for a while, but why not just launch into an ISS compliant orbit? NASA and USAF cooperate, and MCC-H would love to have someone looking at NH3 or other potential liberations 24/7. Close to ISS but not ISS doesn't make sense for something looking at ISS.
I'm thinking that none of the USOS astronauts will be allowed to observe NROL-76 and describe its appearance during those close encounters.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 05/27/2017 05:26 pmI'm thinking that none of the USOS astronauts will be allowed to observe NROL-76 and describe its appearance during those close encounters.Aren't some of the US astronauts ex-military, could any of these have been tasked to see if they could observe it?