USA-200

USA-200, also known as NRO Launch 28 or NROL-28, is an American signals intelligence satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.

[3] Liftoff occurred at 10:02 UTC on 13 March 2008.

[4][5] It was identified as NRO Launch 28,[6] and was the thirteenth flight of an Atlas V. The launch vehicle had the tail number AV-006.

[4] The satellite's orbit and mission are officially classified, however like most classified spacecraft it has been located and tracked by amateur observers.

[1] In addition to its SIGINT payload, USA-200 also carries two secondary instruments; the SBIRS-HEO 2 missile detection payload as part of the Space-Based Infrared System programme, and NASA's TWINS-2 or TWINS-B magnetospheric science instrument as part of the TWINS programme.

The infrared image of a Delta II rocket launch, captured by SBIRS-HEO sensors aboard USA-200.