NOSS Triplets

Naval Ocean Surveillance System-2nd Generation Satellites

Introduction

One of the interesting sights in the sky is the apparent formation flying of satellites associated with the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) satellite group. There are three groups of the 2nd generation NOSS satellites each having three satellites in close proximity to one another. It's speculated that they might maintain formation with the use of connecting wires or solar sails. More likely, their position is maintained by low thrust engines. It's believed these satellites use radio interferometry (or a similar technique) to locate and track ships at sea by their radio transmissions. Normally these satellites are relatively dim to the naked eye but on occasions can be seen in dark skies.

Details

The three known groups of second generation NOSS satellites are:



Common Name      Cat. No.       Int. Desig.           Launch Information

NOSS 2-1          20691           90 50C           Titan IV Cape Canaveral June 8, 1990 
NOSS 2-1 (D)      20692           90 50D
NOSS 2-1 (E)      20642           90 50E

NOSS 2-2 (C)      21799           91 76C           Titan IV Vandenberg     Nov 8, 1991
NOSS 2-2 (D)      21808           91 76D
NOSS 2-2 (E)      21809           91 76E

NOSS 2-3 (C)      23908           96 29C           Titan IV                May 12, 1996 
NOSS 2-3 (D)      23862           96 29D
NOSS 2-3 (E)      23936           96 29E

All were launched aboard Titan 4 booster rockets as secondary payloads. The final orbits obtained were approximately 1100 km in altitude with a final inclination of 63.4 degrees. Over time the orbits have become more elliptical.

The standard magnitude (1000 km distant, 50% illumination) for these satellites is approximately magnitude +6 making them barely naked-eye visible in a very dark sky. At times the magnitude increases (brightens) allowing the triplet formation to be more readily observed.

The earlier generation of NOSS satellites (NOSS 0, 1, 2 through 8) are normally not naked-eye visible but at times can be observed without optical aids. Some of these are also close-grouped flyers.

Informational Links

NOSS-2nd Generation by FAS .

Description of the NOSS 1st and 2nd Generation Satellites from FAS .

Encyclopedia Astronautica on NOSS-2

More information on the NOSS groups from David Hastings' Military Space Page listed under "surveillance" for satellite types.

SPACEWARN bulletins 458 and 512

Paul Maley , who is an experienced satellite observer, has produced an excellent web site on satellite observing including a picture of a NOSS formation.

See SeeSat-L archive.

One can search for additional information and observations related to the NOSS satellites, which includes the SeeSat-L archives by using a search engine such as Google and search on the word "NOSS".

Links: to the VSO Home Page, the observing guide, shuttle details, the satellite predictions themselves.

Produced by Jeff Hunt ; Neil Clifford & Bart De Pontieu

jeff@satellite.eu.org ; neil@satellite.eu.org & bart@satellite.eu.org

C'mon, this is in Arkansas, it's simply a bad (good?) batch of Moonshine! {;^)

yes ,i knew about the 3 satellites holding by cable and have seen it on the sky,it`s a 4 seconds view coming from the west,and show it to friends a couple of times ,but you need luck to see it.
but this article might be something else,the lady reporter is a researcher.