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KH-11

Spacecraft · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American military surveillance satellite. Also known as Kennan, Program 1010. Used systems developed for KH-10 Manned Orbiting Laboratory. Reconnaissance, electro-optical satellite built by Lockheed => Lockheed Martin for NRO, USA. Launched 1976 - 2013. Used Bus-1.

First electro-optical digital transmission imaging reconnaissance satellite. Ground resolution 0.15 m with a 2.3 m diameter mirror. Believed to be similar to Hubble Space Telescope (they used same shipping container and specially-modified aircraft). Data transmitted via SDS military relay satellites.

More at: KH-11.

Related

Country
USA
Launch Vehicles
Titan, Titan IIID, Titan 34D
Agency
USAF, Lockheed
Bibliography
2, 5, 6, 6617, 12716

Chronology

9 events

1976 December 19

18:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIID.
  • KH-11 no. 1 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 1 / OPS 5705. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1979-01-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 9627 . COSPAR: 1976-125A. Apogee: 531 km (329 mi). Perigee: 246 km (152 mi). Inclination: 96.90 deg. Period: 92.30 min. KH-11 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..

1978 June 14

18:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIID.
  • KH-11 no. 2 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 2 / OPS 4515. Mass: 13,000 kg (28,000 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1981-08-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 10947 . COSPAR: 1978-060A. Apogee: 509 km (316 mi). Perigee: 223 km (138 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 91.90 min.

    SAMSO held a successful preliminary design review with Martin Marietta on the radio guidance system equipment for Titan III34Ds launched from Vandenberg AFB. KH-11 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1980 February 7

21:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIID.
  • KH-11 no. 3 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 3 / OPS 2581. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1982-10-30 . USAF Sat Cat: 11687 . COSPAR: 1980-010A. Apogee: 498 km (309 mi). Perigee: 220 km (130 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 91.70 min. KH-11 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

1981 September 3

18:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIID.
  • KH-11 no. 4 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 4 / OPS 3984. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1984-11-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 12799 . COSPAR: 1981-085A. Apogee: 526 km (326 mi). Perigee: 244 km (151 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 92.30 min. KH-11 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1982 November 17

21:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIID.
  • KH-11 no. 5 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 5 / OPS 9627. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1985-08-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 13659 . COSPAR: 1982-111A. Apogee: 520 km (320 mi). Perigee: 280 km (170 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 92.60 min. KH-11 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1984 December 4

18:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D.
  • USA 6 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 6. Mass: 13,000 kg (28,000 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1990-12-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 15423 . COSPAR: 1984-122A. Apogee: 650 km (400 mi). Perigee: 300 km (180 mi). Inclination: 97.10 deg. Period: 93.50 min. KH-11 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1985 August 28

21:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D. FAILURE: Stage 1 propellant feed system failure forced premature engine shutdown.. Failed Stage: 1.
  • KH-11 no. 7 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 7. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1985-08-28 . KH-11 type satellite..

1987 October 26

21:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D.
  • USA 27 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 8. Mass: 13,300 kg (29,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. Decay Date: 1992-05-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 18441 . COSPAR: 1987-090A. Apogee: 1,029 km (639 mi). Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 96.50 min. KH-11 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .

1988 November 6

18:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4E. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D.
  • USA 33 - . Payload: KH-11 no. 9. Mass: 13,500 kg (29,700 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: KH-11. USAF Sat Cat: 19625 . COSPAR: 1988-099A. Apogee: 1,012 km (628 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg. Period: 96.40 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .