USA 198

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• Atlas V mission AV-015 launched a classified satellite for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The payload for launch NROL-24 has been given the cover name USA-198 and is thought to be an SDS (Satellite Data System) data relay satellite used to relay surveillance imagery and data from low altitude polar orbiting NRO spacecraft.
• The Centaur entered a low parking orbit and then a deployment orbit of 261 x 16776 km x 60.0 deg on Dec 10, 2007. This compares with the 267 x 15379 km x 58.0 deg deployment orbit of the previous mission in the series, USA 179. The payload will use its own on-board propulsion to raise the orbit to around 1000 x 39400 km x 63 deg.
• It maneuvered to a 12-hour, 515 x 39705 km x 62.6 deg Molniya-type orbit sometime around Dec 28, 2007. The spacecraft is thought to be a data relay communications satellite.