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Hi Matt,
Based on your observational description, how late in the night it was
observed, the description in the link and Terry's image, it will almost certainly
be the AEHF being boosted into a high geostationary orbit. The article
cited that it would eventually be parked at 90 degrees West longitude.
Did anyone happen to note the approx. RA/Dec or Az/El for a given specific time?
Reading online, apparently its launch had faced several slippages. It was beset
by technical difficulties during testing and a 12 month delay for the
NSA to deliver the cryptographic system. Apart from having to weather the
extremes of heat and cold in space, the vehicle is claimed to be a hardened
target.
So collectively, let's hope it never has to be used in the type of scenario it
was designed for.
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