CLIO (USA 257)

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data:

Spacecraft data: Prime manufacturer  Lockheed Martin Platform  A2100A Operator  unidentified US Government Agency Mass at launch   kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment   Solar array  2 deployable solar arrays Stabilization   Propulsion   DC power   Design lifetime

Description:

• The CLIO satellite's purpose has not been revealed, but officials acknowledged it was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. in a commercial arrangement with the craft's user: an unidentified U.S. government agency.

Mission details:

• United Launch Alliance launched a Lockheed Martin Atlas V 401, flight AV-049, on Sep 17, 2014. The rocket placed the Lockheed Martin A2100 class CLIO satellite (USA 257) in an unusual high-perigee geostationary transfer orbit, possibly around 11800 x 36000 km, after coasting in an initial 174? x 28860 km x 28 deg orbit.
• CLIO's owner is an unidentified US government agency - possibly the National Reconnaissance Office although nowadays its satellites are normally acknowledged. It may have a communications or signals intelligence payload.

External links:

• CLIO Information