# FORTE

> American satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q49905](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49905)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FORTE)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/forte

## Summary
FORTE is an American military satellite launched in 1997 to rapidly record transient events in orbit. It was deployed using a Pegasus air-launched rocket and is classified under the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The satellite's name stands for "Fast On-orbit Rapid Recording of Transient Events."

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: August 29, 1997
- **Satellite Class**: Military satellite
- **Launch Vehicle**: Pegasus air-launched rocket
- **COSPAR ID**: 1997-047A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 24920
- **Aliases**: Fast On-Orbit Recording von Transient Events, フォルテ (Japanese)
- **Mission Focus**: Recording transient electromagnetic events

## FAQs
### Q: When was FORTE launched?
A: FORTE was launched on August 29, 1997, aboard a Pegasus rocket.

### Q: What does FORTE stand for?
A: The acronym stands for "Fast On-orbit Rapid Recording of Transient Events."

### Q: What type of satellite is FORTE?
A: It is a military satellite designed for defense-related signal detection and recording.

## Why It Matters
FORTE represents a specialized asset in U.S. military reconnaissance, leveraging advanced technology to detect and record transient electromagnetic events. Its deployment via the Pegasus rocket highlighted innovations in air-launched space systems, reducing costs and increasing flexibility for small satellite missions. As a military asset, FORTE contributed to strategic surveillance capabilities, addressing critical defense needs through rapid data collection in orbit. Its mission underscores the intersection of space technology and national security, showcasing the role of satellites in monitoring and responding to global threats.

## Notable For
- First U.S. military satellite launched via the Pegasus air-deployed rocket system.
- Specialized in detecting and recording brief electromagnetic signals for defense purposes.
- Operated under the National Reconnaissance Office, emphasizing its strategic importance.
- Demonstrated early capabilities in rapid-response satellite technology for transient event monitoring.

## Body
### Launch Details
FORTE was launched on August 29, 1997, using a Pegasus rocket, an air-launched system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now part of Northrop Grumman). The Pegasus rocket, first introduced in 1987, was known for its cost-effective deployment of small satellites.

### Satellite Specifications
- **COSPAR ID**: 1997-047A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 24920
- **Aliases**: Fast On-Orbit Recording von Transient Events (German), フォルテ (Japanese)
- **Classification**: Military satellite (U.S. National Reconnaissance Office)

### Mission Objective
FORTE's primary mission was to rapidly detect and record transient electromagnetic events, such as brief radio-frequency signals or other electronic phenomena. This capability supported military intelligence gathering and surveillance operations, providing critical data for defense analysis. The satellite's design emphasized speed and precision in capturing short-duration events, a key requirement for its reconnaissance role.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Quora