Satellites are being deployed as a ‘watch dog’.
By Sébastien Roblin
Journalist on International Affairs, Security, and Military History
The U.S. is growing worried about the increasing number of so-called inspector satellites launched into space by China and Russia that have the potential to move close to U.S. satellites, potentially spying on and even interfering with their functionality. So the U.S. is launching into space a new class of its own spy satellite called Silent Barker that’s specifically billed as being good for spying on those rival inspector satellites.
Yes, you have that right: America’s response to satellites used to spy on U.S. satellites is to send our own space spies to spy on theirs.
Perhaps fittingly, artwork for the launch evokes a 1970s era sci-fi novel about space-going werefoxes (because foxes represent spies and cunning!)
The Atlas V551 rocket launch carrying Silent Barker into geosynchronous orbit was set to take place at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:34 am on August 29, but was delayed due to Hurricane Idalia’s approach on Florida. Now it’s been rescheduled for September 9 at 8:51 am.
This launch, designated NROL-107, carries multiple payloads that will assume a geosynchronous orbit 22,370 miles above the surface—meaning they complete a rotation around Earth at a largely fixed longitude in the same time the Earth’s completes a rotation. That means the satellites will return to the same spot above the Earth every 23 hours, 56 minutes and four seconds.
At least two more launches each with “one or more payloads” are scheduled for the program, leading to full operational capability in 2026.