National
 
Reconnaissance
 
Office

 

 

Last updated: December 1, 2009

 

Satellite Status Report

The following report describes the current status of our satellite fleet. For information regarding the satellite capabilities of other countries, please check the DIA Satellite Intel Report. To see which orbit a satellite is on and whether it is capable of observing a new target, please refer to the Satellite Tracking Maps which accompany this report. All satellite maneuvers and payload selections must go through the Air Force Chief of Staff.

This report will be updated as needed.

 

Current US Satellite Fleet

Satellite Type Orbit  Flight- path Current Elevation Fuel Level Refuel- able? Orbital Lifespan

 Target
KH12-A E-O / IR  Low 1 E2  20 %  No  6 months

Russian-Polish border
KH12-B E-O / IR  Low 1  E3  30 %  No 1 year 

Eastern China
KH13 E-O / IR  Low 1  E2  20 %  No 8 months

Murmansk, Moscow
8X E-O / IR  Med 2  E2  90 %  Yes 1 year

Croatia (redeployed 10/10)
Lacrosse-9 Radar Imaging Low 2  E2  10 %  No 6 months 

Tehran
Lacrosse-10 Radar Imaging Low 2  E3  30 %  No 1 year 

Korea 
Lacrosse-11 Radar Imaging Low 1  E3  90 %  No 2 years

Eastern China/ Taiwan Strait
Ranger IR-targeting Low 2  E2  20 %  No 1 year

Jaharta, Indonesia
Prowler-1 BMW  High Geosyn  --  30 %  No 1 year

Kara Sea SSBN bastion
Prowler-2 BMW  High Geosyn  -- 50 %  No 2 years

Central Russia Silos
Prowler-3 BMW  High Geosyn  --  50 %  No 2 years

North Korea, Northeast China
Mercury-2 ELINT  High Geosyn  -- 30 % Yes 18 mos.

Central Russia
Mercury-3 ELINT  High Geosyn  -- 90 % Yes 3 years

Eastern Russia
Mercury-4 ELINT (prototype) High Geosyn  -- 95 % Yes 3 years

Western Russia

 

Comments

The "orbital lifespan" heading refers to the amount of time a satellite has left before its orbit begins to decay. Actual orbit decay could be as much as two months earlier or later than the estimated time. Once this occurs it will drop to the next lower elevation and continue dropping at a rate of 1 elevation every 2 months. When it drops from Elevation 1 it is considered inoperable as it begins to break up or burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry.

A fuel expenditure of 10% is required to change the satellite's orbit or elevation. The fuel cost is the same regardless of the elevation chosen.

"Target" refers to the geographical area that the satellite was last assigned to. Generally it means that the satellite passes over the target in the middle of the day (for game purposes this will always be 1400, local time) when the chances of activity and/or tactical maneuver of some kind are highest.

The next two table shows the number and type of satellites that are currently in our inventory and the projected launch schedule for the coming year. The NRO will choose which satellites to launch and where to target them based on the recommendation of the J3 Operations staff.

 

Current Satellite Inventory

Satellite / Project  Type Orbit Wt. Remarks 
KH12-C E-O / IR  Low 35,000 kg Ready to deploy
KH14 E-O / IR  Low 35,000 kg Prototype KH12 w/ refuelable tanks. Ready to deploy.
 Lacrosse-11 Radar  Low  25,000 kg Launched 9/1.
 Lacrosse-12 Radar  Low  25,000 kg Ready to deploy
8X E-O / IR Med 50,000 kg Production stopped due to cost overruns.
 Ranger SB-WASS  Low 25000 kg x 2 Ready to deploy. Requires two separate launches.
Prowler-4 ELINT High 25,000 kg Ready to deploy
Prowler-5 ELINT High 25,000 kg Ready to deploy
Mercury-3 ELINT Geosyn 50,000 kg Launched 12/1.
Mercury-4  ELINT Geosyn 50,000 kg Prototype. More efficient propulsion system. Ready to deploy.
 Kilroy SBL laser element ASAT  Low 35,000 Ready to be assembled. Requires Shuttle launch. 
FRITZ ASAT  Geosyn 25,000 Prototype. Ready to deploy. 

 

Scheduled Launches

 Date Location Lift vehicle Lift Capacity  Payload  Mission 
September 1, 2009  Vandenberg Titan 4 50,000 kg  Lacrosse-11 Taiwan Strait, 1400
October 1, 2009  Cape Canaveral Space Shuttle 35,000 kg  Fuel propellant Refuel 8X
December 1, 2009 Vandenberg Titan 4 50,000 kg Mercury-3 Eastern China
January 1, 2010 Cape Canaveral Titan 4 50,000 kg Mercury-4  Western Russia
January 15, 2010  Vandenberg Delta 25,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified
March 1, 2010  Cape Canaveral Space Shuttle 35,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified
April 1, 2010  Vandenberg Titan 4 50,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified
May 1, 2010 Vandenberg Delta 25,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified
June 1, 2010  Cape Canaveral Space Shuttle 35,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified
July 1, 2010 Vandenberg Titan 4 50,000 kg Cargo unspecified Target unspecified 
-- -- -- --   --   --
-- -- -- --   --   --

 

Comments

The payload for each launch must be decided on at least 1 month before the projected launch date.

The space shuttle is capable of carrying a KH series, Lacrosse, or one-half of the SB-WASS system (either the primary or the triplet of drones). Alternatively, the shuttle can carry fuel to replenish satellites that are capable of refueling.

The Ranger SB-WASS satellite may require two launches to make it operational, one for the the primary element and another for the triplet of drones. Each half of the system weighs 25,000 kgs. Only the Titan 4 can carry all of the elements in one flight.

A shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral can be bumped in favor of a Titan 4 launch, but the launch date will be pushed back by 1 month.

ENN will feature live coverage of each launch. Information regarding payload will be kept classified.

There is a 2% chance of failure for each satellite during deployment. Satellites with new, untested features (marked *) run a somewhat higher risk (between 2-12%, as determined by a D6). There is a 15% chance of some sort of launch failure. Degree of the failure is decided by a D6, with the following die-roll possibilities:

 

This report will be updated as needed.

To request a maneuver or to recommend a payload for an upcoming launch, contact the Air Force Chief of Staff. To assign a reconnaissance mission, contact the DIA.

Regards,

Peter Peepers,
Director
National Reconnaissance Office