These satellites are suspected to be stealthy electro-optical reconnaissance satellites. The program name for developing an stealth IMINT capability is reportedly "Misty".
The first one was Misty (aka USA 53 and AFP-731), deployed from Shuttle in 1990.
USA 144 was probably the second Misty mission. Launched from Vandenberg in May 1999 aboard a Titan-4(03)B with no upper stage, USA 144 probably has an IMINT mission, but its orbit is a mystery. Hobbyist satellite observers continue to track an object from that launch in a 2700 km x 3100 km, 63.4 deg orbit, but detailed orbital analysis reveals significant solar radiation pressure perturbations, from an area to mass ratio of about 0.1 m2/kg, 10 to 20 times that of a payload, and more akin to debris, can be deduced. It appears to be no more than 5 to 10 m across, and only a few hundred kilograms in mass. If USA 144 is Misty-2, then it is likely to be in a 700 to 800 km, quasi 65° orbit. The orbits are low-drag, so orbit maintenance manoeuvres are not required.
Misty-1 remained in orbit for at least 7.5 years.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Reconnaissance, electro-optical, stealth |
| Operator: | NRO |
| Contractors: | Lockheed Martin |
| Equipment: | ? |
| Configuration: | ? |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Lifetime: | + 7.5 years |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misty 1 (AFP-731, USA 53) | 28.02.1990 | CC LC-39A | Shuttle | with Atlantis F6 (STS 36) | |
| Misty 2 (EIS 1 ?, USA 144) | 22.05.1999 | Va SLC-4E | Titan-4(04)B | ||
| Misty 3 | Va SLC-6 | Delta-4H |
Source: Usenet discussions, Ted Molczan
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs