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Re: (meteorobs) Auroa [sic]
In a message dated 9/27/2001 12:08:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
mwilson@stratodot net writes:
<< I would like to tell the list about 3 satellites Myself and a
stargazing buddy seen a few months ago while out looking at/for dso's. It
was around 9:30pm EST when we spotted them. They were in a perfect triangle
formation heading from the north to south moving at the same speeds. I have
been looking for some information on mutiple satellites working together but
found nada. Anyone know what this may have been?
A note:
We waited the 90 minutes to see if they passed overhead again but either it
was too late to see them or they are higher then the 220 miles up.which
means tit would take longer then 90 minutes to orbit 1 time.
>>
Mark:
I copied this from a website about a year ago, regarding these
triplet satellites -
The US Navy's spaceborne electronic intelligence (ELINT) system,
White Cloud, is based on SSU (Subsatellite Unit) satellites and
is intended for determining the location of warships of foreign
states and following them by the method of taking bearings on
the ships' onboard radioelectronic equipment from several
positions. Official Pentagon representatives try not to attract
attention to this system, since it is the principal means of
over-the-horizon reconnaissance and target designation for the
US Navy's weapons systems. In comparison with other American
reconnaissance satellites, (for example, "Keyhole" and
"Lacrosse") the SSU satellites are mentioned comparatively
infrequently and have various names: White Cloud, Classic
Wizard, and Parcae.
Clear skies,
Bob Young
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