USA-231
American reconnaissance satellite
title: "USA-231" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["spacecraft-launched-in-2011", "spacecraft-launched-by-minotaur-rockets", "usa-satellites"] description: "American reconnaissance satellite" topic_path: "general/spacecraft-launched-in-2011" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-231" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American reconnaissance satellite ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight|auto=all"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | ORS-1 |
| image | ORS-1 graphic.jpg |
| image_caption | Illustration of the ORS-1 satellite |
| mission_type | Imaging |
| operator | US DoD |
| COSPAR_ID | 2011-029A |
| SATCAT | 37728 |
| spacecraft_bus | ATK satellite bus |
| manufacturer | Goodrich Corporation |
| launch_mass | 434 kg |
| launch_date | UTC |
| launch_rocket | Minotaur I |
| launch_site | Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport LP-0B |
| launch_contractor | Orbital Sciences |
| last_contact | |
| orbit_epoch | January 13, 2015, 04:45:04 UTC |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric |
| orbit_regime | Low Earth |
| orbit_periapsis | 423 km |
| orbit_apoapsis | 427 km |
| orbit_inclination | 40.07 degrees |
| orbit_period | 92.93 minutes |
| apsis | gee |
| <ref name | "seesat_Jul-2011_0014" |
| :: |
| name = ORS-1 | image = ORS-1 graphic.jpg | image_caption = Illustration of the ORS-1 satellite
| mission_type = Imaging | operator = US DoD | website = | COSPAR_ID = 2011-029A | SATCAT = 37728 | mission_duration =
| spacecraft_bus = ATK satellite bus | manufacturer = Goodrich Corporation | dry_mass = | launch_mass = 434 kg | power =
| launch_date = UTC | launch_rocket = Minotaur I | launch_site = Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport LP-0B | launch_contractor = Orbital Sciences
| disposal_type = | deactivated = | last_contact = | decay_date =
| orbit_epoch = January 13, 2015, 04:45:04 UTC | orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = Low Earth | orbit_periapsis = 423 km | orbit_apoapsis = 427 km | orbit_inclination = 40.07 degrees | orbit_period = 92.93 minutes | apsis = gee --}} USA-231 or ORS-1 (Operationally Responsive Space-1) is an American reconnaissance satellite which was launched in 2011 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia by a Minotaur I launch vehicle. It is the first operational satellite of the Operationally Responsive Space Office. It is equipped with a SYERS 2A sensor.
ORS-1 satellite is designed to provide orbital space imagery of Southwest Asia and to enhance battlespace awareness to operational field commanders. The ORS-1 will undergo a 30-day trial and adjustment check before the ORS Office turns over it operations to USAF's 1st Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colorado. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Minotaur_I_Rocket_Launch_at_NASA_Wallops.jpg" caption="Minotaur I Rocket Launch at NASA Wallops, June 30, 2011 with ORS-1"] ::
SYERS
SYERS 2 is an optical and infrared camera with a 40 cm aperture and a field of view larger than 2 degrees. It uses time delay and integration CCD sensors to compensate for ground motion, resulting in a resolution of 1m (NIIRS 4) from a nominal 300 km orbit. SYERS 2 is supplied by the Goodrich Corporation.
SYERS is also carried by the Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.
References
References
- Krebs, Gunter D.. "ORS 1". Gunter's Space Page.
- (September 1, 2013). "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists.
- Church, Aaron M. U.. (August 2011). "Air Force World".
- Peat, Chris. (January 13, 2015). "ORS 1 (USA 231) – Orbit". Heavens-Above.
- Molczan, Ted. (2011-07-02). "ORS 1 discovered by Brad Young". http://www.satobs.org/seesat.
- Christy, Robert. "2011". Zarya Diaries.
- Morring, Jr., Frank. (2011-06-27}}{{Dead link). "ORS-1 Satellite Set For Launch". Aviation Week.
- (2006). "E-O Reconnaissance Payloads for Responsive Space: Leveraging Airborne Sensor Investments". AIAA 4th Responsive Space Conference 2006.
- Voorhees, Carla. (2011-06-28). "ORS-1 Imaging Satellite Scheduled For Liftoff". dodlive.mil.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::