USA-231

Summary

USA-231,[5] or ORS-1 (Operationally Responsive Space-1) is an American reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 2011 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia by a Minotaur I launch vehicle.[3] It is the first operational satellite of the Operationally Responsive Space Office. It is equipped with a SYERS 2A sensor.[6]

ORS-1
Illustration of the ORS-1 satellite
Mission typeImaging
OperatorUS DoD
COSPAR ID2011-029A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.37728
Spacecraft properties
BusATK satellite bus[1]
ManufacturerGoodrich Corporation[1]
Launch mass434 kilograms (957 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 30, 2011, 03:09 (2011-06-30UTC03:09Z) UTC[3]
RocketMinotaur I
Launch siteMid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport LP-0B
ContractorOrbital Sciences
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude423 kilometers (263 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude427 kilometers (265 mi)[4]
Inclination40.07 degrees[4]
Period92.93 minutes[4]
EpochJanuary 13, 2015, 04:45:04 UTC[4]
 

ORS-1 satellite is designed to provide orbital space imagery of Southwest Asia and to enhance battlespace awareness to operational field commanders. The ORS-1 will undergo a 30-day trial and adjustment check before the ORS Office turns over it operations to USAF's 1st Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colorado.[3]

Minotaur I Rocket Launch at NASA Wallops, June 30, 2011 with ORS-1

SYERS edit

SYERS 2 is an optical and infrared camera with a 40 cm aperture and a field of view larger than 2 degrees. It uses Time Delay and Integration CCD sensors to compensate for ground motion, resulting in a resolution of 1m (NIIRS 4) from a nominal 300 km orbit.[7] SYERS 2 is supplied by the Goodrich Corporation.

SYERS is also carried by the Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter D. "ORS 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists. September 1, 2013. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Church, Aaron (August 2011). "Air Force World – Minotaur on the Chesapeake". Air Force Magazine. Vol. 94, no. 8. Air Force Association. p. 17. ISSN 0730-6784. Retrieved August 4, 2011..
  4. ^ a b c d e Peat, Chris (January 13, 2015). "ORS 1 (USA 231) – Orbit". Heavens-Above. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Christy, Robert. "2011". Zarya Diaries. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  6. ^ Morring, Jr., Frank (June 27, 2011). "ORS-1 Satellite Set For Launch". Aviation Week.
  7. ^ Stanley Kishner; David Flynn; Charles Cox (2006). "E-O Reconnaissance Payloads for Responsive Space: Leveraging Airborne Sensor Investments" (PDF). AIAA 4th Responsive Space Conference 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  8. ^ Voorhees, Carla (June 28, 2011). "ORS-1 Imaging Satellite Scheduled For Liftoff". dodlive.mil.

External links edit

  • NASA web page on ORS 1
  • SYERS 2 Reconnaissance Sensor Archived August 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine(Goodrich acquired by UTS Aerospace, link now broken – try ISR systems and [1] Archived March 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine)
  • ORS-1 at eoPortal Directory