USA-336

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/usa-336

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is USA-336 known for?Testing of advanced Earth observation sensors
2. What is the launch vehicle?Titan IVB
3. What is the orbital inclination?Approximately 63 degrees
4. Why did USA-336 go into space?It was sent to try out new cameras and radar that could see the Earth better for intelligence.
5. How did USA-336 end its mission?After its tests were done, it fell back into the sky and burned up in the atmosphere, a safe way to get rid of old satellites.

Reconnaissance: The systematic observation of an area for military or intelligence purposes.
Electro-Optical Sensors: Devices that detect and measure electromagnetic radiation, often used for imaging.
De-orbiting: The process of intentionally or unintentionally causing a spacecraft to leave its orbit and re-enter an atmosphere.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): A US government agency responsible for designing, building, launching, and operating US intelligence satellites.