Misty 1, 2, 3 (AFP-731) (original) (raw)

These satellites are suspected to be stealthy electro-optical reconnaissance satellites. The program name for developing an stealth IMINT capability is reportedly "Misty".

The Misty satellites are likely derived from the KH-11 Block 3 satellites with low observable features added. The relation to the 8X or EIS program is unclear, but there might be common elements.

The first one was Misty 1 (aka USA 53 and AFP-731), deployed from Shuttle in 1990. Misty-1 remained in orbit for at least 7.5 years.

USA 144 was probably the Misty 2 mission. Launched from Vandenberg in May 1999 aboard a Titan-4(03)B with no upper stage, USA 144 probably has an IMINT mission, but its orbit is a mystery. Hobbyist satellite observers continue to track an object from that launch in a 2700 km × 3100 km, 63.4� orbit, but detailed orbital analysis reveals significant solar radiation pressure perturbations, from an area to mass ratio of about 0.1 m2/kg, 10 to 20 times that of a payload, and more akin to debris or a decoy, can be deduced. It appears to be no more than 5 to 10 m across, and only a few hundred kilograms in mass. If USA 144 is Misty-2, then it is likely to be in a 700 to 800 km, quasi 65� orbit. These orbits are low-drag, so orbit maintenance manoeuvres are not required.

The status of a third mission is unknown and it has likely been cancelled.

Note: The NROL designations refer to the launch, not to the payload.