Jorge R. Frank
July 11th 03, 02:39 AM
"John Geenty" > wrote in
:
> I have a question regarding the STS-28 payload that was originally
> intended to have flown on STS-61N. I've read a verity of sources which
> each list a slightly different view of what was carried on STS-28.
> Some media sources suggested it was an advanced KH-11, but this has
> been fairly clearly debunked. I have heard it also suggested it might
> have been a modified Lacrosse. The final theory I read was that it was
> an exceptionally large surveillance satellite designed for Molniya
> orbits to observe various locations including certain Artic regions
> missed by other satellites. Or am I way off the mark with all of
> these? Any help would be excellent, although I understand that STS-28
> is still classified.
The payload was most likely a Satellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft,
specifically SDS B-2, used to relay imaging data from polar-orbiting recon
spacecraft. SDS B-1 and B-3 were deployed on STS-51J and STS-53,
respectively. See pp. 329-331 of Jenkins, 3rd ed, for discussion and
illustration.
--
JRF
Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.
:
> I have a question regarding the STS-28 payload that was originally
> intended to have flown on STS-61N. I've read a verity of sources which
> each list a slightly different view of what was carried on STS-28.
> Some media sources suggested it was an advanced KH-11, but this has
> been fairly clearly debunked. I have heard it also suggested it might
> have been a modified Lacrosse. The final theory I read was that it was
> an exceptionally large surveillance satellite designed for Molniya
> orbits to observe various locations including certain Artic regions
> missed by other satellites. Or am I way off the mark with all of
> these? Any help would be excellent, although I understand that STS-28
> is still classified.
The payload was most likely a Satellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft,
specifically SDS B-2, used to relay imaging data from polar-orbiting recon
spacecraft. SDS B-1 and B-3 were deployed on STS-51J and STS-53,
respectively. See pp. 329-331 of Jenkins, 3rd ed, for discussion and
illustration.
--
JRF
Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail,
check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and
think one step ahead of IBM.