USA 008

Also called Magnum 1

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General

Designation	15543 / 85010B
Launch date	24 Jan 1985
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Military: SIGINT (Magnum)
Geostationary orbit	unofficial: 74°E, inclined
Launch vehicle	STS 20

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External resources

sat-index articles

Technical data

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Magnum type satellite, built by TRW. Carried a 76 m diameter antenna.

This type of satellite (SIGINT) has seen its performance increase with the diameter of the receiving antenna. Thus the Canyon satellites (1968-72) had 10 m antennas, the Rhyolite / Aquacade (1973-78) and the Jumpseat (1973-78) 18 m, the Vortex / Chalet (1978-89) 38 m and the Magnum / Orion 76 m.

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External resources

http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/sigint/index.html

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