USA-184
{{Short description|American signals intelligence satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = USA-184
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = ELINT
| operator = National Reconnaissance Office
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 2006-027A
| SATCAT = 29249
| mission_duration =
| spacecraft_bus =
| manufacturer =
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass =
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|28 June 2006, 03:33|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = Delta IV-M+(4,2) D317
| launch_site = Vandenberg, SLC-6
| launch_contractor =
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| decay_date =
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Molniya
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|1138|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|39210|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 63.2°{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=11 April 2012}}
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
}}
USA-184, also known as NRO Launch 22 or NROL-22, is an American signals intelligence satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in 2006, it has been identified as the first in a new series of satellites which are replacing the earlier Trumpet spacecraft.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/trumpet-fo.htm|title="Trumpet F/O" 1, 2, 3|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=11 April 2012}}
Satellite
USA-184 was launched by Boeing, using a Delta IV carrier rocket flying in the Medium+(4,2) configuration. The rocket was the first Delta IV to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, flying from Space Launch Complex 6,{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d317/|title=New era of rocket launches begins at California base|first=Justin|last=Ray|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=27 June 2006|access-date=11 April 2012}} a launch pad originally constructed as part of abandoned plans for crewed launches from Vandenberg, originally using Titan rockets, and later Space Shuttles.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2006/06/delta-iv-nrol-22-launch-success/|title=Delta IV – NROL-22 launch success|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=27 June 2006|access-date=11 April 2012}} The launch also marked the first launch of an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle from Vandenberg, and the first launch of an NRO payload on an EELV.
Liftoff took place at 03:33 UTC on 28 June 2006 (20:33 PDT on 27 June).{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d317/status.html|title=Delta Launch Report - Mission Status Center|first=Justin|last=Ray|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=28 June 2006|access-date=11 April 2012}} The mission was identified as NRO Launch 22,{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/nrol.htm|title=NROL launches|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=11 April 2012}} and was the sixth flight of a Delta IV, with the flight number Delta 317, or D317.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=11 April 2012}}
The satellite's orbit and mission are officially classified, however like most classified spacecraft it has been located and tracked by amateur observers. It is in a Molniya orbit with a perigee of {{convert|1138|km}}, an apogee of {{convert|39210|km}}, and 63.2° of inclination. In addition to its SIGINT payload, USA-184 also carries two secondary instruments; the SBIRS-HEO-1 missile detection payload as part of the Space-Based Infrared System programme, and NASA's TWINS-1 or TWINS-A magnetospheric science instrument as part of the TWINS programme.
References
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{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Orbital launches in 2006}}
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Category:Spacecraft launched in 2006