Recent content by Dirkman

I was meaning the NRO satellites, the norad database lists NROsats under their USA designation. The satellite isn't big enough for that mission type. It makes much more sense to have it in a highly elliptical orbit with some dwell time over whatever area they want to focus on, that's what the...

Was that actually confirmed in person by anyone who operated the satellite? None of the other recent USA satellites are in orbits anywhere close to that one, and to me it looks like a parking orbit rather than a final orbit. The satellite would always have a very limited lifetime in such a low...

I have been thinking about USA 193 a bit recently and am interested in getting your opinions on it. Several questions: 1. What is the official story on it's failure and shootdown? 2. Am I correct in thinking that it's said to have failed shortly after launch and was out of contact from...