USA 270

active

Missile Warning TrackingGEOCOSPAR 2016-052ALaunched 8/19/2016

Admin Edit

Mission & Launch

Launch Mission: AFSPC-6
Launch Vehicle: Delta 4M+(4,2) A
Launch Date: 8/19/2016

Orbit & Mass

Orbit Class: GEO
Altitude: 35,817.5 km
Inclination: 0.18 deg
Dry Mass: 500 kg
Total Mass: 500 kg

Payload Classification

Mission Type

Missile Warning Tracking

Payload Category

EW*

Payload Class

D

Organizations

Operator: U.S. Air Force
Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman

Constellation

Name: GSSAP
Active Satellites: 6

Registry

COSPAR ID: 2016-052A
UN Registration: ST/SG/SER.E/801

Track

Mentions

5

All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.

The two Shiyan-12 spacecraft are believed to be Chinese inspector satellites for geosynchronous orbit and have interacted with USA 270.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.6Sep 13, 2022China launches Zhongxing-1E military communications satellite

USA 270 maneuvered in geostationary orbit to get a closer look at the Chinese satellites Shiyan-12-01 and Shiyan-12-02.

CapabilityValue 4.0Jun 16, 2022An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms

Shiyan-12-02 moved into position between the sun and USA 270 to provide a sunlit view of the U.S. surveillance satellite.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.3Jun 16, 2022An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms

The Chinese satellites Shiyan-12 (01) and Shiyan-12 (02) executed maneuvers in coordination to move away from the vicinity of USA 270 during the January 2022 encounter.

GeneralValue 4.0Jan 27, 2022China’s Shijian-21 towed dead satellite to a high graveyard orbit

USA 270, a U.S. satellite, neared Chinese test satellites Shiyan-12 (01) and Shiyan-12 (02) while drifting east just below the geostationary belt in January 2022.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.6Jan 27, 2022China’s Shijian-21 towed dead satellite to a high graveyard orbit