USA 137

Also called Capricorn, SDS 3F1

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General

Designation	25148 / 98005A
Launch date	29 Jan 1998
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Military: Communication (Capricorn / SDS 3)?
Perigee/Apogee	40000 x 300 km
Inclination	63°
Period
Launch vehicle	Atlas 2A #113

It may be a follow-on to the SDS communications data relay satellites used to pass on spy satellite imaging data, and may also have either infrared missile warning or signals intelligence secondary payloads aboard. Another theory is that it may be the COBRA BRASS payload for infrared early warning satellite technology development, which was announced as due to fly this year.

It is believed that Capricorn's ground station is the Defense complexe known as Area 58 located 20 miles south of Washington D.C.

Cost: estimated at $250 million

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External resources

sat-index articles

Possible telemetry at 2242.5 MHz

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