Advanced Orion home
topic index
Class: SIGINT. Destination: Geosynchronous Orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Air Force.

Highly classified advanced US signals intelligence satellite.

Typical orbit: 33856 km x 37192 km at 0 degrees inclination.

Advanced Orion Chronology
  • 1995 May 14 - USA 110 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC40. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Perigee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg.
    First launch of 'Advanced Orion' (real code name unknown) new model geostationary ELINT satellite.

  • 1998 May 9 - USA 139 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC40. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg.

  • 2003 September 9 - USA 171 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC40. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Mass: 5,200 kg (11,400 lb).
    American signals intelligence satellite placed into geostationary orbit. It was believed the payload was a successor to the USA-110 and USA-139 satellites launched in May 1995 and May 1998, referred to as 'Advanced ORION' by those not in the know. They were thought to be successors to the RHYOLITE missions of the 1970s. The satellite was originally to have launched April 28, 2002. Launch delayed seven times.

Bibliography:

  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
  • McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
  • JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
  • McDowell, Jonathon, Quest, "US Reconnaissance Satellite Programs Part 2", 1995, Volume 4, Issue 4, page 49.
Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.