Status
Partial Failure
Vortex 12 (USA-31)
Launch Time
Fri Sep 02, 1988 12:05 UTC
Fri Sep 02, 1988 12:05 UTC
This launched used a transtage upper stage.
Satellite lifetime was reduced because transtage burn shut down early.
Rocket
Mission Details
Vortex 12 (USA-31)
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
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Location
SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
Stats
1988
81st orbital launch attempt
Titan III
149th mission
1st mission of 1988