Starlink Installed on Presidential Air Force One | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX Starlink connectivity equips Trump's $400M interim Air Force One as Falcon 9 prepares to orbit 24 more satellites on mission 17-28.
USA 144 (25744)
COSPAR: 1999-028A | Alt Name: USA 144
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
May 22, 1999
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC4E
Launch Vehicle
Titan 404B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
25744
International Designator
1999-028A
Decay Date
Unknown
Basic Satellite Info
Name
USA 144
Alternative Name
USA 144
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
NROC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
USA 144, also known by its OBJECT_ID 1999-028A and NORAD_CAT_ID 25744, is a reconnaissance satellite launched on May 22, 1999, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (AFWTR) SLC4E using the Titan 404B launch vehicle. The satellite has dimensions of approximately 12 meters in length and 4 meters in diameter with a span of 20 meters, and its dry mass is around 8000 kilograms. It was launched with a total mass of 10,000 kg and was stabilized by May 23, 1999. USA 144 operates for approximately 7.5 years and serves the National Reconnaissance Office (NROC). Its mission involves electro-optical reconnaissance with stealth capabilities, carrying a payload known as MISTY 2. The satellite's manufacturer is unknown but identified as UNKUS. Details about its equipment, motor, power source, shape, and other specifics remain undisclosed.
Physical Characteristics
Length
12
Diameter
4
Span
20
Dry Mass
8000
Launch Mass
10000
Shape
Unk
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
MISTY 2
Purpose
Reconnaissance, electro-optical, stealth
Mission
Reconnaissance, electro-optical, stealth
Manufacturer
UNKUS
Life Expectancy
+ 7.5 years
Bus
NRO X
Configuration
?
Motor
?
Equipment
?
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Space Brief 10 May 2025
Today's brief covers Rocket Lab's Neutron being selected for military tests, Space Force's strategic updates, Germany's SAR satellite plans, and a significant NASA nomination.
Van Allen Probe A Reenters March 10 After 14 Years | KeepTrack Space Brief
NASA's Van Allen Probe A (1,300 lbs) reenters today after 14 years studying Earth's radiation belts. Most debris will burn up; ocean impact statistically likely.
Space Brief 15 May 2025
Today's brief highlights a nuclear battery startup's funding boost, advisory board additions in the space sector, and key military updates impacting space operations.
The Satellites the Size of a Studio Apartment
AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird constellation is a bet that raw aperture size wins. Each satellite unfolds a 64-square-meter phased-array antenna in orbit, the largest commercial antenna ever deployed. The company claims a stock smartphone on the ground can connect directly to it. The competition says the physics doesn't support that. Seventeen satellites in and a contract with AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, somebody's math is wrong.
Space Brief 17 Sep 2025
Highlights include China's recent satellite launch, advancements in nuclear propulsion, non-kinetic tech developments for maritime defense, SpaceX's direct-to-device spectrum tests, and maneuvering satellites for Space Force missions.
X Report 20 Jun 2025
SpaceX experiences significant setbacks with Starship after Ship 36 explodes during static fire preparations, while Eutelsat secures funding to bolster competition against Starlink.
SpaceX Launches NROL-105 Spy Satellite, GE Validates Hypersonic Ramjet Engine | KeepTrack Space Brief
SpaceX launches NROL-105 spy satellite from Vandenberg in first national security mission of 2026. GE and Lockheed validate compact rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic missiles.