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NROL-9

Titan 404B

United States Air Force

Launch Status
Success

Mission

NROL-9 (Misty 2)

Type: Government/Top Secret

This satellite is suspected to be a stealthy electro-optical reconnaissance satellite. The program name for developing an stealth IMINT capability is reportedly “Misty”. Hobbyist satellite observers continue to track an object from that launch in a 2700 km × 3100 km, 63.4° 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 or a decoy, 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. These orbits are low-drag, so orbit maintenance manoeuvres are not required.

Trajectory

The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.

Mission patch for NROL-9 (Misty 2)

Location

Space Launch Complex 4E

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

714 rockets have launched from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Rocket

Titan 404B – Lockheed Martin

  • Family: Titan
  • Length: 54 m
  • Diameter: 3.05 m
  • Launch Mass: 910 T
  • Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 21680 kg

The Titan 404B was manufactured by Lockheed Martin with the first launch on 1999-05-22. Titan 404B has 3 successful launches and 0 failed launches with a total of 3 launches. Titan IV was a family of heavy-lift space launch vehicles developed by Martin Marietta and operated by the United States Air Force from 1989 to 2005.

Agency

United States Air Force – USAF

  • Type: Government
  • Abbreviation: USAF
  • Country: USA
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