Magnum (satellite)
Encyclopedia
Magnum is the code name for a class of SIGINT
spy satellite
s reportedly operated by the National Reconnaissance Office
for the United States Central Intelligence Agency
. The program remains classified
, and the information that exists is speculative.
It is believed that two or three Magnum satellites were launched from space shuttle
missions between 1985 and 1990: STS-51-C
(1985), STS-33
(1989) and possibly from STS-38
(1990). The satellites reportedly have a mass of 2200 kilogram, operating in near-geosynchronous orbit
s, using Inertial Upper Stage
s to get from the shuttle's orbit to the higher geosynchronous orbit.
According to Jim Slade, ABC News, Magnum 2 (USA-48), launched on STS-33, was replacing Magnum 1 (USA-8), which after more than 4 years in orbit was running out maneuvering fuel required for keeping its station over the Indian Ocean. The mission of Magnum 1 and Magnum 2 was to listen in to military and diplomatic communications from the Soviet Union, China, and neighbouring countries.
The Magnum satellites, built by TRW
, are rumored to have large (estimated 100 m (328.1 ft) diameter) umbrella-like reflecting dishes
to collect RF signals
from Earth. The Magnum/Orion satellites replaced the older Rhyolite/Aquacade
series of SIGINT satellites, and have themselves been succeeded by the Mentor/Advanced Orion
satellites.
SIGINT
Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
spy satellite
Spy satellite
A spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications....
s reportedly operated by the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
for the United States Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. The program remains classified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
, and the information that exists is speculative.
It is believed that two or three Magnum satellites were launched from space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
missions between 1985 and 1990: STS-51-C
STS-51-C
STS-51-C was the 15th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the third flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. It was also the first shuttle mission to deploy a dedicated United States Department of Defense payload, and as such many mission details remain classified...
(1985), STS-33
STS-33
-Crew notes:S. David Griggs, the originally scheduled pilot for STS-33, died in a plane crash in June 1989, five months prior to the scheduled launch, and was replaced by John E...
(1989) and possibly from STS-38
STS-38
-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Payload: Magnum ELINT satellite ~ **Booster: IUS upper stage ~ **Total: ~ *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 28.5°*Period: 87.5 min-Preparations and Launch:...
(1990). The satellites reportedly have a mass of 2200 kilogram, operating in near-geosynchronous orbit
Geosynchronous orbit
A geosynchronous orbit is an orbit around the Earth with an orbital period that matches the Earth's sidereal rotation period...
s, using Inertial Upper Stage
Inertial Upper Stage
The Inertial Upper Stage , originally known as the Interim Upper Stage, is a two-stage solid-fueled booster rocket developed by the U.S...
s to get from the shuttle's orbit to the higher geosynchronous orbit.
According to Jim Slade, ABC News, Magnum 2 (USA-48), launched on STS-33, was replacing Magnum 1 (USA-8), which after more than 4 years in orbit was running out maneuvering fuel required for keeping its station over the Indian Ocean. The mission of Magnum 1 and Magnum 2 was to listen in to military and diplomatic communications from the Soviet Union, China, and neighbouring countries.
The Magnum satellites, built by TRW
TRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
, are rumored to have large (estimated 100 m (328.1 ft) diameter) umbrella-like reflecting dishes
Parabolic reflector
A parabolic reflector is a reflective device used to collect or project energy such as light, sound, or radio waves. Its shape is that of a circular paraboloid, that is, the surface generated by a parabola revolving around its axis...
to collect RF signals
Signal (electrical engineering)
In the fields of communications, signal processing, and in electrical engineering more generally, a signal is any time-varying or spatial-varying quantity....
from Earth. The Magnum/Orion satellites replaced the older Rhyolite/Aquacade
Rhyolite/Aquacade
Rhyolite and later, Aquacade are reportedly code names for a class of SIGINT spy satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. The National Security Agency was also reportedly involved...
series of SIGINT satellites, and have themselves been succeeded by the Mentor/Advanced Orion
Mentor (satellite)
MENTOR, sometimes called Advanced Orion by observers, is reportedly a code-name for a class of United States spy satellites that collect signals intelligence from space...
satellites.
Launches
- Magnum 1, deployed from STS-51-CSTS-51-CSTS-51-C was the 15th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the third flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. It was also the first shuttle mission to deploy a dedicated United States Department of Defense payload, and as such many mission details remain classified...
launched 24 January 1985, (COSPARCOSPARThe Committee on Space Research was established by the International Council for Science in 1958.Among COSPAR's objectives are the promotion of scientific research in space on an international level, with emphasis on the free exchange of results, information, and opinions, and providing a forum,...
1985-010B) (USA-8) - Magnum 2, deployed from STS-33STS-33-Crew notes:S. David Griggs, the originally scheduled pilot for STS-33, died in a plane crash in June 1989, five months prior to the scheduled launch, and was replaced by John E...
launched 23 November 1989,(COSPAR 1989-090B) (USA-48) - Magnum 3, deployed from STS-38STS-38-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Payload: Magnum ELINT satellite ~ **Booster: IUS upper stage ~ **Total: ~ *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 28.5°*Period: 87.5 min-Preparations and Launch:...
launched 15 November 1990,(COSPAR 1990-097B)(USA-67)(Some sources identify USA-67 as a SDS-2Satellite Data SystemThe Satellite Data System is a system of United States military communications satellites. At least three generations have been used: SDS-1 from 1976 to 1987; SDS-2 from 1989 to 1996; SDS-3 from 1998 to the present...
military communications satellite)
External links
- Information from astronautix.com
- Gunter's Space Page - information on Magnum
- Globalsecurity- Magnum/ Mentor/ Orion