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#20 by William Graham on 23 Mar, 2014 13:42
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With this launch now pinpointing GEO (or maybe just GTO, but less likely) maybe it's the follow-on to the long-lived "Mercury" series, which hasn't seen a launch in 17 years (I wonder if the last ones are still active right now? It might be possible to see if they are drifting around the GEO band....). Should be interesting to track this bird once it launches!
Aren't the Mentor/Orion satellites the replacement for that system?
Historically the NRO has had two separate series of GEO (or near-GEO) SIGINT satellites:
Canyon -> Chalet/Vortex -> Mercury
Rhyolite/Aquacade -> Magnum/Orion (the name Mentor seems to be apocryphal)
The Canyon series were used for triangulating radar signals, while the Rhyolite series are used to intercept communications.
The Integrated Overhead SIGINT Architecture (IOSA) programme was supposed to merge the functions of these two satellites into a single series of vehicles. I've seen conflicting reports as to whether this programme was abandoned, or whether more recent Orions have incorporated features from the other series. -
#21 by Jim on 23 Mar, 2014 13:58
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I thought Canyon -> Chalet/Vortex -> Mercury was comint from GSO
and jumpseat - trumpet was radarint from Molinya -
#22 by William Graham on 23 Mar, 2014 15:12
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I thought Canyon -> Chalet/Vortex -> Mercury was comint from GSO
and jumpseat - trumpet was radarint from Molinya
Jumpseat/Trumpet is indeed the Molniya orbit component of the NRO's SIGINT system. Off the top of my head I can't remember if they're COMINT or RADARINT.
I've always had the Rhyolite line down as COMINT, but I have seen Mercury described as COMINT before (and conversely the Rhyolite/Orion series described as RADARINT), so it is possible that they could be that way around.
In the last 20 years we have seen four main series of NRO SIGINT satellites;
* Intruder - LEO SIGINT (ship triangulation)
* Orion - GSO SIGINT (Rhyolite line)
* Mercury - GSO SIGINT (Canyon line)
* Trumpet - HEO/Molniya SIGINT -
#23 by Skyrocket on 23 Mar, 2014 15:21
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I thought Canyon -> Chalet/Vortex -> Mercury was comint from GSO
and jumpseat - trumpet was radarint from Molinya
Jumpseat/Trumpet is indeed the Molniya orbit component of the NRO's SIGINT system. Off the top of my head I can't remember if they're COMINT or RADARINT.
I've always had the Rhyolite line down as COMINT, but I have seen Mercury described as COMINT before (and conversely the Rhyolite/Orion series described as RADARINT), so it is possible that they could be that way around.
In the last 20 years we have seen four main series of NRO SIGINT satellites;
* Intruder - LEO SIGINT (ship triangulation)
* Orion - GSO SIGINT (Rhyolite line)
* Mercury - GSO SIGINT (Canyon line)
* Trumpet - HEO/Molniya SIGINT
The satellites of the Canyon and Chalet/Vortex series were in 24 h orbits (typically 30200 km × 40800 km × 9.00°), but not geostationary. This was a strong hint, that they were to triangulate emitter positions - hence the identification as RADARINT. The Mercury follow on series were true GSO satellites.
The Rhyolite / Orion series was true GSO from the beginning. -
#24 by Targeteer on 23 Mar, 2014 22:12
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Ted Molczans's pre-launch search TLEs and payload analysis
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Mar-2014/0159.html
"Some additional guesses:
I believe that this launch is the same one that was known for a time as AFSPC-2, which according to an unofficial manifest on NASASpaceFlight.com, was to employ an Atlas V-541. The USAF budgeted about $27.5 million to qualify the Atlas V extended mission kit (EMK) (aka GSO kit), which was to have first flown on AFSPC-2. The EMK enables the Centaur stage to operate 6 h instead of the standard 2 h, required for 3-burn direct insertion GEO missions. There are two common GEO launch profiles. In the first and most common, the launch vehicle's mission ends with insertion of the payload near the perigee of a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and the payload completes the remaining manoeuvres to reduce the inclination and circularize the orbit at GEO altitude, using a PKM, thrusters, or some combination. In the other profile, the upper stage performs all of the major manoeuvres to reach the final GEO orbit, leaving only minor adjustments for the payload.
With the exception of Rhyolite in the 1970s, NRO SIGINT satellites launched to Molniya or GEO, have relied on the upper stage to perform all of the manoeuvres to reach their final orbit. The only non-SIGINT NRO satellite to use this mode, was the SDS 1, during the 1970s and 80s.
The AFSPC-2 label later was assigned to AEHF-3, which employs the Atlas V-531 and does not require an EMK. About the same time, NROL-67 appeared on public manifests, employing an Atlas V-541, which I strongly suspect is the former AFSPC-2 vehicle and its EMK, which is strong evidence that it is the next generation GEO SIGINT.
The new spacecraft may share the same bus as the Trumpet-FO (Follow On) SIGINT, launched to Molniya from VAFB in 2006 and 2008: 2006-027A / 29249 on Delta IV-M (4,2), and 2008-010A / 32706 on Atlas V-411. Trumpet-FO satellites host the SBIRS-HEO sensors. I have roughly estimated their combined mass between 3,900 and 4,500 kg.
U.S. GEO SIGINTs typically operate in orbits initially inclined between 5 and 7 deg. Based on the mission planner's guide, the Atlas V 541 can directly insert about 3,850 kg into a 6 deg GEO orbit; the next smaller vehicle, 531, can insert about 3,400 kg, so the payload range would be 3,400 kg to 3,850 kg, which seems about right for a Trumpet Follow-On without the SBIRS sensor.
Fairing sizes disagree: Trumpet-FO employs 4 m fairings, NROL-67's is 5 m; however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size." -
#25 by Chris Bergin on 24 Mar, 2014 11:18
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ULA:
The Launch Readiness Review was completed Friday for the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-67) launch. The mission is set to liftoff on a ULA Atlas V rocket on Tuesday, March 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 2:48 p.m. EDT. Today’s forecast shows a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
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#26 by Jim on 24 Mar, 2014 13:16
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true -
#27 by Galactic Penguin SST on 24 Mar, 2014 13:29
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
So is it available in all Atlas V versions? (Centaur now has 3.5 hours re-start capability anyway, thanks to GPS) -
#28 by William Graham on 24 Mar, 2014 18:23
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
Five metre fairing is required for four boosters though. -
#29 by Prober on 24 Mar, 2014 18:35
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
So is it available in all Atlas V versions? (Centaur now has 3.5 hours re-start capability anyway, thanks to GPS)
Can the Centaur go 6 hours with two RL-10's? -
#30 by Jim on 24 Mar, 2014 18:46
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
So is it available in all Atlas V versions? (Centaur now has 3.5 hours re-start capability anyway, thanks to GPS)
Can the Centaur go 6 hours with two RL-10's?
It has nothing to do with number of engines, it is batteries, hydrazine and helium. -
#31 by jacqmans on 24 Mar, 2014 22:29
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Launch has been postponend at least 24 hr
The U.S. Air Force has delayed tomorrow’s Atlas 5 launch due to a “range instrumentation outage”
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#32 by WHAP on 24 Mar, 2014 23:09
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
So is it available in all Atlas V versions? (Centaur now has 3.5 hours re-start capability anyway, thanks to GPS)
Can the Centaur go 6 hours with two RL-10's?
Why 2? This Centaur has only 1. -
#33 by Chris Bergin on 24 Mar, 2014 23:43
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Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (March 24, 2014) – The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-67) payload has been delayed to no earlier than Wednesday, March 26. The 45th Space Wing range experienced an issue with a mandatory range asset needed to support the launch. The Atlas V and NROL-67 spacecraft have been secured. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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#34 by Artyom. on 25 Mar, 2014 03:04
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#35 by Star One on 25 Mar, 2014 12:35
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however, the 3-burn insertion to GEO option is only available for the Atlas V-521, 531, 541 and 551, so the payload's dimensions may not have determined the fairing size."
Not true
Five metre fairing is required for four boosters though.
So the size of the fairing may be deceptive as far as the size of the payload is concerned? -
#36 by gwiz on 25 Mar, 2014 13:21
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I would suppose that the 5 m fairing allows better insulation to be fitted on the Centaur tanks for a long coast period, but this is just my guess.
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#37 by Jim on 25 Mar, 2014 13:37
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I would suppose that the 5 m fairing allows better insulation to be fitted on the Centaur tanks for a long coast period, but this is just my guess.
Not really, thicker insulation wouldn't affect the 4m that much. Anyways, I don't think it is done for 5m -
#38 by Litsas on 25 Mar, 2014 22:07
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Launch now NET Thursday, March 27th 2014.
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#39 by cartman on 25 Mar, 2014 22:23
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When is the latest this mission can launch without impacting the next mission from the Cape?
