USA-247

USA-247

Mission type	Radar imaging
Operator	US NRO
COSPAR ID	2013-072A
SATCAT №	39462
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Topaz
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Start of mission
Launch date	6 December 2013, 07:14:30 (2013-12-06UTC07:14:30Z) UTC
Rocket	Atlas V 501 AV-042
Launch site	Vandenberg SLC-3E
Contractor	ULA
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth (retrograde)
Perigee	1,108 kilometers (688 mi)[1]
Apogee	1,113 kilometers (692 mi)[1]
Inclination	123.01 degrees[1]
Period	107.35 minutes[1]
Epoch	22 January 2015, 18:27:48 UTC[1]

USA-247, also known as NRO Launch 39 or NROL-39, is an American reconnaissance satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. The USA-247 launch received a relatively high level of press coverage due to the mission's choice of logo, which depicts an octopus sitting astride the globe with the motto "Nothing Is Beyond Our Reach".^[2] The logo was extensively criticized in light of the 2013 surveillance disclosures.^[3]

Launch details

Launched in 2013, it has been identified as a Topaz radar imaging satellite, developed as part of the Future Imagery Architecture program,^[4] to replace the earlier Onyx spacecraft.^[2][5]

USA-247 was launched by United Launch Alliance using an Atlas V carrier rocket flying in the 501 configuration, along with twelve CubeSats being carried as secondary payloads. Five of the CubeSats were a part of NASA ELaNa II manifest. Space Launch Complex 3E at the Vandenberg Air Force Base was used to conduct the launch, which took place at 07:14:30 UTC on 6 December 2013 (23:14 local time on 5 December).^[6] Identified as NRO Launch 39, it marked the forty-third flight of an Atlas V. The rocket used had been named Belle, and had tail number AV-042.^[7]

Mission logo

The mission's official logo was a monstrous octopus with its massive arms wrapped around the world, accompanied by the motto "Nothing Is Beyond Our Reach".^[2] This image was widely deemed controversial in light of the 2013 Global surveillance disclosures.

A spokesperson for the NRO explained:^{[8] [9][3]}

"NROL-39 is represented by the octopus, a versatile, adaptable, and highly intelligent creature. Emblematically, enemies of the United States can be reached no matter where they choose to hide. 'Nothing is beyond our reach' defines this mission and the value it brings to our nation and the warfighters it supports, who serve valiantly all over the globe, protecting our nation."

After the Director of National Intelligence announced the launch on Twitter,^[10] the image was criticized as "tone-deaf" to the political climate caused by the 2013 surveillance disclosures.^[3]

In a segment discussing mass surveillance entitled "That Thing They Said They're Not Doing? They're Totally Doing", American satirist Jon Stewart commented on the logo:^[11]

I feel like, at this point, our intelligence community is pretty much even owning the fact that they are getting nefarious.
Last week, the National Reconnaissance Office launched this spy satellite into orbit;
And the logo they chose for their spy rocket—this is real—a giant octopus sucking the face off North America.

Some outlets drew satirical parallels with anti-communist imagery.^[12]

References