|
Other Designations: KH-12. Manufacturer's Designation: KH-11B. Code Name: Ikon. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Destination: Sun-synchronous orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: NRO. Manufacturer: Lockheed. Improved CRYSTAL was an optical reconnaissance satellite built for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Prime contractor was thought to be Lockheed. Instruments included a large telescope with visual and near infrared wavelength CCD sensors and the ICMS mapping system. The satellite succeeded the KH-11. Public attribution of the KH-12 designation to the satellite was believed to be incorrect. The basic optical package may have been similar to the KH-11, but with improved avionics and a great deal more maneuvering propellant. The satellite was believed to include signals intelligence payloads, and had wider spectral band sensitivity, perhaps 'real time' television capability, and other improvements compared to the KH-11. Meant to be shuttle-launched, after the USAF abandoned its shuttle plans it was lightened and modified for Titan 4 launch. Data transmitted via SDS military relay satellites. The ICM propulsion bus, developed by NRL for a 'classified program', proposed as a tug for the International Space Station, was believed to have been based on the Improved Crystal's propulsion module. Typical orbit: 150-250 km x 975 km at 98 degrees inclination. Mass: 18,000 kg (39,000 lb). Main Engine Propellants: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Titan 4, Titan 4B.
Improved Crystal Chronology
- 2001 October 5 - USA 161 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Titan 4B. Mass: 16,650 kg (36,700 lb). Perigee: 150 km (90 mi). Apogee: 1,050 km (650 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg.
Launch delayed from September 25, October1. National Reconnaissance Office payload that was placed into a sun-synchronous orbit. It was speculated that the payload was an Improved Crystal imaging satellite. That would imply an operational orbit of 150 x 1050 km x 97.9 deg orbit. The satellite belonged to the National Reconnaissance Office's fleet of Earth Imaging System (EIS) satellites. A BBC website reported a resolution of 10 cm in the images. (A commonly used name for the EIS satellites was Advanced Keyhole.) The first member of the EIS fleet was USA 144 (1999-028A), launched in May 1999.
- 2005 October 19 - USA 186 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Titan 4B. Mass: 20,000 kg (44,000 lb). Perigee: 264 km (164 mi). Apogee: 1,050 km (650 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg.
Delayed from 2003; February 2004; and June 30, July 10, September 9, 2005. Last launch of the Titan series put a classified National Reconnaisance Office satellite into polar orbit. Its orbital parameters, as determined by amateur observors, suggested it was an Improved Crystal electronic imaging reconnaissace satellite, replacing USA 129, which was launched in 1996.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
|