Gloria 1, 2 (original) (raw)

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Gloria []

The USA 41 and USA 70 were small satellites of classified purpose, which was deployed during the Columbia STS 28 and Discovery STS 39 missions from MPEC (Multi-Purpose Experiment Canister) canisters.

The Gloria were by Ball Aerospace and designed to survey signals in the 30 to 38 GHz frequency range. The payload was built by E-Systens. It satisfies quick response, low cost, and limited time mission objectives. Frequency measurement accuracy is 150 MHz.

Gloria 1 was designed to scan a specific frequency band that intelligence analysts believed was inactive. The last survey of this band had been conducted a decade earlier during an undisclosed mission (likely Lorri 1 on KH-9 16). Gloria 1 confirmed that there was no significant activity in that range, suggesting that another survey would not be necessary for another decade.

Gloria 2 examined a slightly different frequency band and detected a single unidentified "red" signal but found little else of interest.

Overall, it appears that the primary purpose of both satellites was to validate existing assumptions that these frequency bands remained largely inactive.

Possibly a third mission was planned, but not launched.

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