Geostationary
USA 270
Classified (Assessed: SIGINT / Inspector) · NRO / US Air Force
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A classified US intelligence satellite in geostationary orbit, tracked by amateur observers in an orbit suggesting signals intelligence collection. Notably observed approaching within miles of a Chinese TJS-3 satellite in 2018 — appearing to conduct an on-orbit inspection of the Chinese spacecraft. This rendezvous, the first publicly observed US-China satellite proximity event, highlighted the intensifying competition in geostationary orbit where both nations deploy satellites capable of approaching and characterizing each other's spacecraft.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Geostationaryappears to hang motionless over one spot on the equator
- Altitude
- 22,221–22,265 mi (35,761–35,832 km)
- Inclination
- 4.4°
- One orbit
- 23.9 hoursabout one orbit a day
- NORAD ID
- 41744
- Int’l designator
- 2016-052A
- Launched
- 2016
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 21 Sep 2026.