USA 350, 351, 438, 439, 485, 486 (original) (raw)
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Starshield (generic) [SpaceX]
These are unidentified small military satellites of unknown purpose.
Likely the satellites were built by SpaceX based on the Starshield bus (based on Starlink Block v1.5 and Starlink Block v2.0 technology), based on the deployement structure seen in the launch video. Their purpose has not been revealed, but is likely either technical demonstration, communications, earth observation or signals intelligence.
The first four satellites were launched on 13 January 2022 on the shared Transporter-3 mission on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) launch.
The second batch of four satellites was launched on 19 June 2022 on the shared mission on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) launch.
A third batch of two satellites was launched on 19 March 2024 as secondary payloads on the Starlink v2-Mini G7 mission.
These satellites are likely prototypes for NRO's proliferated architecture of small satellites, of which NROL-146 was the first operational launch..
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Unknown |
| Operator: | NRO ? |
| Contractors: | SpaceX |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | Starshield bus |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA 350 (Starshield G2-1-1) | 2024-050W | 19.03.2024 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G7-16-1, ..., G7-16-20, USA 351 |
| USA 351 (Starshield G2-1-2) | 2024-050X | 19.03.2024 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G7-16-1, ..., G7-16-20, USA 350 |
| USA 438 (Starshield G2-2-1, NROL 126) | 2024-225A | 30.11.2024 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with USA 439, Starlink v2-Mini GN-01-1, ..., GN-01-20 |
| USA 439 (Starshield G2-2-2, NROL 126) | 2024-225B | 30.11.2024 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with USA 438, Starlink v2-Mini GN-01-1, ..., GN-01-20 |
| USA 485 (Starshield G2-3-1) | 2025-014X | 21.01.2025 | CCK LC-39A | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G13-1-1, ..., G13-1-21, USA 485 |
| USA 486 (Starshield G2-3-2) | 2025-014Y | 21.01.2025 | CCK LC-39A | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G13-1-1, ..., G13-1-21, USA 486 |
| USA 549 (Starshield G2-4-1) | 2025-165V | 31.07.2025 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G13-4-1, ..., G13-4-19, USA 550 |
| USA 550 (Starshield G2-4-2) | 2025-165W | 31.07.2025 | Va SLC-4E | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with Starlink v2-Mini G13-4-1, ..., G13-4-19, USA 549 |