USA-276, also known as NROL-76, is a classified spacecraft operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.[3] Due to being classified, very little information is known about the satellite.[4]
.jpg) | |
| Names | USA-276 NROL-76 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Radar imaging / Technology demonstration |
| Operator | National Reconnaissance Office |
| COSPAR ID | 2017-022A |
| SATCAT no. | 42689 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aerospace |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | May 1, 2017, 7:15 am EST[1] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Full Thrust |
| Launch site | Launch Pad 39A, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, United States |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Regime | Low Earth Orbit[2] |
| Inclination | ~50°[2] |
Background
USA-276 was launched onboard Falcon 9 NROL-76.[1] The Falcon 9 upper stage that carried USA-276 to its orbit made several close flybys of the ISS.[4]