View source for USA-234

{{Infobox spaceflight|auto=all
| name                  = USA-234
| image                 = 
| image_caption         =

| mission_type          = Radar imaging
| operator              = US [[National Reconnaissance Office|NRO]]
| website               = 
| COSPAR_ID             = 2012-014A 
| SATCAT                = 38109 
| mission_duration      =

| spacecraft_type       = [[Topaz (satellite)|Topaz]] 
| manufacturer          = Lockheed Martin
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = 
| power                 =

| launch_date           = {{start-date|3 April 2012, 23:12:57|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC 
| launch_rocket         = [[Delta IV|Delta IV-M+(5,2)]] D359
| launch_site           = [[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg]] [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6|SLC-6]]
| launch_contractor     = [[United Launch Alliance|ULA]]

| disposal_type         = 
| deactivated           = 
| last_contact          = <!-- {{end-date|[insert date here]}} -->
| decay_date            =

| orbit_epoch           = 18 January 2015, 16:58:55&nbsp;UTC<ref name="heavens-above">{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=38109|title=USA 234 - Orbit|last=Peat|first=Chris|publisher=Heavens-Above|date=18 January 2015|accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref>
| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]] ([[retrograde orbit|retrograde]])
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|1107|km|mi}}<ref name="heavens-above"/> 
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|1114|km|mi}}<ref name="heavens-above"/> 
| orbit_inclination     = 123.00&nbsp;degrees<ref name="heavens-above"/>
| orbit_period          = 107.35&nbsp;minutes<ref name="heavens-above"/>
| apsis                 = gee
}}
'''USA-234''', also known as '''NRO Launch 25''' or '''NROL-25''', is an American [[reconnaissance satellite]], operated by the [[National Reconnaissance Office]]. Launched from [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in 2012, it has been identified as the second [[radar imaging]] satellite to be launched as part of the [[Future Imagery Architecture]] programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/fia-radar.htm|title=FIA-Radar 1, 2, 3, 4|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page}}</ref>

USA-234 was launched by [[United Launch Alliance]], using a [[Delta IV]] carrier rocket, making its first flight in the Medium+(5,2) configuration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d359/family/|title=Delta 4 poised for one last 'first flight' milestone|first=Justin|last=Ray|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=28 March 2012|accessdate=9 April 2012}}</ref> The rocket was launched from [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6|Space Launch Complex 6]] at Vandenberg, at 23:12:57 UTC (16:12:57 PDT) on 3 April 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d359/|title=Delta 4 rocket successfully lofts surveillance satellite|first=Justin|last=Ray|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=4 April 2012|accessdate=9 April 2012}}</ref> It was identified as NRO Launch 25, and was the nineteenth flight of a Delta IV; the vehicle was designated Delta 359, and named ''Electra''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/nrol.htm|title=NROL launches|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page}}</ref>

The satellite's orbit and mission are officially classified; however, it has been located by amateur observers in a {{convert|1096|by|1079|km|mi}} orbit, [[orbital inclination|inclined]] at 123 degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2012/0071.html|title=NROL-25: search TLE update|publisher=Seesat|first=Ted|last=Molczan|date=6 April 2012|accessdate=9 April 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{orbit|datasource|H}}

{{Wikipedia|USA-234}}

[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2012]]
[[Category:National Reconnaissance Office satellites]]
[[Category:USA satellites]]
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