USA-231

USA-231 (ORS-1)

Illustration of the USA-231 satellite
Operator	US DoD
Bus	ATK satellite bus
Mission type	imaging
Launch date	30 June 2011, 11:09pm EDT[1]
Carrier rocket	Minotaur I
Launch site	Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport LP-0B
COSPAR ID	2011-029A
Orbital elements
Regime	Low Earth
Inclination	40.00 degree[2]
Apoapsis	412 km (256 mi)[2]
Periapsis	399 km (248 mi)[2]

USA-231,^[3] formerly ORS-1 (Operationally Responsive Space) is an American reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 2011 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia by a Minotaur I launch vehicle.^[1] It is the first operational satellite of the Operationally Responsive Space Office. It is equipped with a Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) 2A.^[4]

ORS-1 satellite is designed to provide orbital space imagery of Southwest Asia and to enhance battlespace awareness to operaational 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.^[1]

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

SYERS functions

SYERS 2 is a optical and infrared camera with a 40 cm aperature and a field of view larger than 2 degree. 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.^[5] SYERS 2 is supplied by the Goodrich Corporation.

SYERS previous version has also been used with the Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.^[6]

See also

• 2011 in spaceflight
• NASA web page on ORS 1
• SYERS 2 Reconnaissance Sensor

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Church, Aaron, Assoc. Editor (August 2011). "Air Force World - Minotaur on the Chesapeake". AIR FORCE MAGAZINE, Journal of the Air Force Association (Air Force Association) 94 (8): p.17. ISSN: 0730-6784. http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2011/August%202011/0811world.aspx. Retrieved 4 August 2011. .
2. ^ ^{a b c} Molczan, Ted (2011-07-02). "ORS 1 discovered by Brad Young". http://www.satobs.org/seesat. http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jul-2011/0014.html. 
3. ^ Christy, Robert. "2011". Zarya Diaries. http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/2011.php. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
4. ^ Morring, Jr., Frank (2011-06-27). "ORS-1 Satellite Set For Launch". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/06/27/09.xml&headline=ORS-1%20Tactical%20%20Imagery%20Sat%20Set%20For%20Launch. 
5. ^ Stanley Kishner, David Flynn, Charles Cox (2006). "E-O Reconnaissance Payloads for Responsive Space: Leveraging Airborne Sensor Investments". AIAA 4th Responsive Space Conference 2006. http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS4%5CPresentations%5CRS4_5003C_Kishner.pdf. 
6. ^ Voorhees, Carla (2011-06-28). "ORS-1 Imaging Satellite Scheduled For Liftoff". dodlive.mil. http://science.dodlive.mil/2011/06/28/ors-1-imaging-satellite-scheduled-for-liftoff/.