NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Vortex 9 (OPS 1948)

Launch Time
Mon Oct 01, 1979 11:22 UTC

Rocket

Titan III(23)C
Martin Marietta
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 13,642 kN
Payload to LEO: 13,100 kg
Payload to GTO: 3,000 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 2
Rocket Height: 42.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.0 m

Mission Details

Vortex 9 (OPS 1948)

Vortex, previously known as Chalet, was a class of spy satellite operated by the United States during the 1980s and 1990s to collect signals intelligence (SIGINT) from high Earth orbit. The Vortex satellites were operated by the National Reconnaissance Office for the United States Air Force and listened to radio transmissions originating from Earth or space. The intercepted data is believed to have been fed into and analyzed by the National Security Agency ECHELON system.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,800.0 kg
Geosynchronous Orbit

Location

SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1979

89th orbital launch attempt

Titan III

118th mission
4th mission of 1979
105th successful mission
8th consecutive successful mission