# USA-193

> failed reconnaissance satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office

**Wikidata**: [Q748395](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q748395)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-193)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/usa-193

## Summary
USA-193 was a failed reconnaissance satellite launched by the National Reconnaissance Office in 2006 that malfunctioned shortly after launch and was later destroyed in 2008 by the U.S. military in a controlled operation called Operation Burnt Frost.

## Key Facts
- USA-193 was launched on December 14, 2006, at 21:00:00 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West using a Delta II launch vehicle
- The satellite had a mass of approximately 2,268 kilograms
- It was placed in an orbit with an apoapsis of 257 kilometers and a periapsis of 242 kilometers
- The satellite malfunctioned immediately after launch due to a "command and control" problem
- USA-193 was destroyed on February 21, 2008, by the USS Lake Erie using a RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 as part of Operation Burnt Frost
- The satellite's COSPAR ID and NSSDCA ID are both 2006-057A
- USA-193 is also known by several aliases including NRO Launch 21, NROL-21, L-21, and NROL 21

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of USA-193?
A: USA-193 was intended to be a reconnaissance satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, designed to covertly collect data for intelligence and military applications.

### Q: Why was USA-193 destroyed?
A: USA-193 was destroyed in 2008 because it had malfunctioned and was expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The U.S. military conducted a controlled destruction to prevent potentially hazardous components from landing on populated areas.

### Q: What was the significance of the destruction operation?
A: The operation marked the first time the U.S. had destroyed a satellite in orbit for safety reasons. It demonstrated the capability of the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 and raised discussions about space debris and international space law.

## Why It Matters
USA-193 represents both a technical failure in satellite reconnaissance and a significant event in space policy and military capability. Its destruction marked the first time a satellite was intentionally brought down by the United States for safety concerns rather than as a demonstration of military power. This incident highlighted issues with satellite reliability, space debris management, and the potential hazards of non-functioning satellites re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The operation demonstrated the U.S. military's ability to engage targets in space, raising international discussions about space weapons and arms control. It also served as a test case for the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 system, which had implications for both missile defense and counter-space capabilities.

## Notable For
- The first U.S. satellite destroyed in orbit specifically for safety reasons rather than as a military demonstration
- The immediate failure of the satellite after launch, described as a "command and control" problem
- The use of a naval-based missile defense system (RIM-161 Standard Missile 3) to destroy a satellite in low Earth orbit
- The controversy and international discussion it sparked about space debris and potential space weapons
- Its role in demonstrating both the capability and the ethical considerations of orbital intercept operations

## Body
### Mission and Launch
USA-193, also known as NRO Launch 21 (NROL-21), was a reconnaissance satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). It was launched on December 14, 2006, at 21:00:00 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West using a Delta II launch vehicle. The satellite had a mass of approximately 2,268 kilograms.

### Orbit and Technical Specifications
The satellite was placed in an orbit with the following specifications:
- Apoapsis: 257 kilometers
- Periapsis: 242 kilometers
- Orbital inclination: 58.48 degrees
- COSPAR ID: 2006-057A
- NSSDCA ID: 2006-057A
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 29651

### Immediate Failure
According to U.S. Department of Defense transcripts, USA-193 failed immediately after launch due to a "command and control" problem, preventing the satellite from successfully performing its reconnaissance mission.

### Destruction Operation
Due to the malfunction and concerns about the satellite's uncontrolled re-entry, the U.S. military decided to destroy USA-193. On February 21, 2008, the USS Lake Erie fired a RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) intercept to destroy the satellite. This operation was named "Operation Burnt Frost."

### Aftermath
The destroyed satellite entered Earth's atmosphere on February 29, 2008. This event was notable as the first time the United States had intentionally destroyed a satellite in orbit for safety reasons, sparking international discussion about space debris and the legal implications of satellite intercept operations.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.space-track.org/#decay)
3. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=29651)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11704)
6. [Source](http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4145)