USA 224

KH-12 6

USA

Spacecraft n°:

US spacecraft n°:

Advanced KH-11, Improved Crystal - Also called: USA 224 and NROL 49

Launch data:

Designation	37348 / 11002A
Launch date	20 Jan 2011 - 21:10 UT
Launch site	Va, SLC-6
Launch vehicle	Delta-4H (D352)
Mission	Military: Reconnaissance (Imaging)
Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit on Jan 20.92:
Perigee / Apogee	241 x 1007 km
Eccentricity	0.055
Inclination	97.90 deg
Period	97.20 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	Lockheed Martin (USA)
Platform
Operator	National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
Mass at launch	18000 kg
Dry Mass	10000 kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
Solar array
Stabilization
Propulsion
DC power
Design lifetime	5+ yrs - still active

Mission details:

A US National Reconnaissance Office satellite, codenamed USA 224, was launched from Vandenberg AFB on Jan 20, 2011 aboard a Delta 4 Heavy rocket. Launch NROL-49 carried the payload into a 252 x 1023 km x 97.9 deg polar orbit. Observations of its orbit are consistent with reports that it is an Improved CRYSTAL type (KH-11 derivative) imaging reconnaissance satellite

Ref.: #7(JR637), #206, #226 - update: 19.05.13