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Code Name: Ikon. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Nation: USA. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Electro-optical reconnaisance satellite, succeeded KH-11. Heavier, and believed to include signals intelligence payloads, and have wider spectral band sensivity, perhaps 'real time' television capability, and other improvements compared to the KH-11. Meant to be shuttle-launched, after the USAF abandoned its shuttle plans it was lightened and modified for Titan 4 launch. Data transmitted via SDS military relay satellites.
SpecificationTotal Mass: 19,600 kg.
KH-12 Chronology
28 February 1990
USA 53 Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Mass: 19,600 kg. Perigee: 198 km. Apogee: 207 km. Inclination: 62.0 deg. Deployed from STS-36 2/28/90. Spent boosters, spent maneuvering stages, shrouds and other non-functional objects (US Cat D).
28 November 1992
USA 86 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Titan 4. Mass: 19,600 kg. Perigee: 256 km. Apogee: 911 km. Inclination: 97.7 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
20 December 1996
USA 129 Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Titan 4. Mass: 19,600 kg. Perigee: 153 km. Apogee: 949 km. Inclination: 97.9 deg.
Bibliography:- 4 - McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. HTML when accessed: ftp://sao-ftp.harvard.edu/pub/jcm/space/news
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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