Trajectory & orbital insertion
Ascent path is a representation — true ascent telemetry isn’t public.
Provider
Lockheed Martin
Provider type
Commercial
Orbit
Elliptical
Mission type
Communications
Launch site
United States of America
Date
Thu, 29 Jan 1998 18:37:00 GMT
Orbital launch #
#4213 ever
Mission
Satellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft are communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data from US reconnaissance satellites (e.g. KH-11, Onyx, Topaz) in polar areas. They are also used for communications to USAF aircraft on polar routes and connect the various ground stations of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The spacecraft relay the downlinked data to a ground station at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.