| 👁 Image Launch of USA-186 | |
| Mission type | Optical imaging |
|---|---|
| Operator | NRO |
| COSPAR ID | 2005-042A 👁 Edit this at Wikidata |
| SATCAT no. | 28888[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KH-11 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 October 2005 18:05 UTC |
| Rocket | Titan IV (404)B (B-26) |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-4E |
| Contractor | Lockheed Martin |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| 👁 Image | |
USA-186 (also known as KH-11 14 and NROL-20) is an American reconnaissance satellite which is operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in October 2005, it is the first KH-11 Block 4 reconnaissance satellite.[2][3][4][5][6]
Overview
[edit]The satellite launched as the last Titan IV launch and is last Titan rocket launch and ending its many decades of service to US National Security missions, future KH-11 mission will be launch on the Delta IV Heavy rocket.[3]
KH-11 KENNEN also called Crystal is an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite which replaced the film-return satellites like KH-9 HEXAGON.[2][7][8][9]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "USA 186 – Orbit Data". heavens-above.com. 4 March 2019.
- ^ a b "KH-11 / Kennen / Crystal". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ a b "KH-11 14 (Crystal 14) (USA-186) (NROL-20) | Titan IV(404)B | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ Cain, Fraser (20 October 2005). "Final Titan 4 Launches". Universe Today. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ "The Last Titan - NASA". Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin's Last Titan IV Successfully Delivers National Security Payload to Space". Media - Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ "Top Secret KH-11 Spysat Design Revealed By NRO's Twin Telescope Gift to NASA - AmericaSpace". www.americaspace.com. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "KH-11". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "KH-9 Hexagon". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
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