US-AO 4 Mission

Launch Status

Success

Date & Time

22 Mar 1968, 9:30am

Pad

90/19

Launch Service Provider

Vehicle

Mission

US-AO 4

Mission Type

Government/Top Secret

Destination

Low Earth Orbit

US-A (Upravlenniye Sputnik Aktivny) were active radar satellites for ocean surveillance. The high power consumtion of the active radar required a nuclear reactor as power source. The satellites were known as RORSAT in the west. The US-AO series consisted of satellites, which tested all the system components but the nuclear reactor. They were battery powered.

Updated: Jan 3, 7:54pm UTC

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