Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Info wanted on Atlantis "secret" military satellite payload
Message-ID: <1988Dec8.001846.26121@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <684@pyuxd.UUCP> <1988Dec4.225033.18207@utzoo.uucp> <6464@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU> <12418@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 88 00:18:46 GMT

In article <12418@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) writes:
>A little thought reveals that even without the benefit of the published
>reports saying it's a radar satellite, it's highly unlikely that Atlantis's
>payload is an optical observation satellite.  Earth observation satellites
>(weather, earth resources or spy) that operate with visible light work best
>in "sun synchronous" orbits...  The 57 degree
>inclination orbit of Atlantis's payload has some nasty characteristics as
>far as earth illumination goes...

However, if what you've got is a shuttle-unique payload (which at least
some rumors claim the KH-12 is), you just have to settle for what you
can get, and that ugly orbit is the best you're going to get if you need
high-latitude coverage with a shuttle launch from the Cape.  If you're in
a big hurry to get the thing up -- all three of the near-future shuttle
military payloads are in a fair hurry -- you might settle for it.

(An earlier example is that the Teal Ruby infrared-sensor payload
is shuttle-unique, REALLY REALLY wants a higher-inclination orbit, to
test infrared aircraft tracking against the broken ice at the edge of the
polar cap [a severe worst-case background, and of considerable practical
importance], and is probably going to have to settle for 57 degrees.)

Frankly, I don't think we have enough evidence to say *what* that thing is.
The USAF and CIA have been doing a good job on disinformation on this bird;
this is the third different story within a month or so.  I'm not convinced
there won't be a fourth.  I'll go along with Lacrosse as a working hypothesis
but I don't think a KH-12 can be ruled out.
-- 
SunOSish, adj:  requiring      |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
32-bit bug numbers.            | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu