Launch Overview
Vehicle
Delta 4M+(4,2)
Agency
United States Air Force
Site / Pad
VS / SLC6
Outcome
Success
Flight
D4-6/D317
COSPAR Designator
2006-027
Mission
NROL-22 (Trumpet 4) (Government/Top Secret)
These spacecraft are probably the replacement for the Trumpet SIGINT satellites operating in a Molniya orbit. As no name is known, these are referred here as "Trumpet Follow On". Possibly these satellites might be named Raven. These satellite most likely use a large, unfurlable dish antenna to collect the signals. Advances in both antenna and electronics technologies have allowed for a large reduction in size compared the Trumpet predecessors.
Vehicle & Provider
Rocket
Delta IV M+(4,2)
Provider
United States Air Force
Agency launches
1074 (4 YTD)
Site launches
626 (3 YTD)
Pad launches
5 (1 YTD)