Starshield (generic) [SpaceX]
Official name USA 321
Alternative name USA 321
Cospar ID 2022-002CX
Norad ID 51077
Launch date 2022-01-13
Launch site AFETR
Launch vehicle Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5)
Country/Organization USA
Type application Unknown
Operator ?
RCS size LARGE
Decay date 2023-04-01
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 300
Height (m) 0.2
Width (m) 2.8
Depth (m) 0.2
Span (m^2) 9
Contractors SpaceX
Configuration Starshield bus

These are unidentified small military satellites of unknown purpose.

Likely the satellites were built by SpaceX based on the Starshield bus (based on Starlink Block v1.5 and Starlink Block v2.0 technology), based on the deployement structure seen in the launch video. Their purpose has not been revealed, but is likely either technical demonstration, communications, earth observation or signals intelligence.

The first four satellites were launched on 13 January 2022 on the shared Transporter-3 mission on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) launch.

The second batch of four satellites was launched on 19 June 2022 on the shared mission on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) launch.

A third batch of two satellites was launched on 19 March 2024 as secondary payloads on the Starlink v2-Mini G7 mission.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
USA 322 2022-002CY 2022-01-13 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Umbra 02, Capella 7, 8, ICEYE X14, X16, Sich 2-1, ION-SCV 004, Dodona, STORK 1, 2, LabSat, SW1FT, VZLUSAT 2, ETV A1, BRO 5, HYPSO 1, Kepler 16, ..., 19, Flock-4x 1, ..., 44, FOREST 1, Lemur-2 149, 150, Lemur-2 146, 147, DEWA-Sat 1, NuX 1, IRIS A, MDASat 1a, 1b, 1c, Gossamer Piccolomini, Tevel 1, ..., 8, Challenger, Delfi-PQ 1, Unicorn 2A, 2D, 2E, FossaSat 2E1, ..., 2E6, MDQube-SAT 1, SATLLA 2A, 2B, Unicorn 1, EASAT 2, HADES, Grizu-263a, PION-BR 1, SanoSat 1, Tartan-Artibeus 1, USA 320, ..., 323
USA 323 2022-002CZ 2022-01-13 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Umbra 02, Capella 7, 8, ICEYE X14, X16, Sich 2-1, ION-SCV 004, Dodona, STORK 1, 2, LabSat, SW1FT, VZLUSAT 2, ETV A1, BRO 5, HYPSO 1, Kepler 16, ..., 19, Flock-4x 1, ..., 44, FOREST 1, Lemur-2 149, 150, Lemur-2 146, 147, DEWA-Sat 1, NuX 1, IRIS A, MDASat 1a, 1b, 1c, Gossamer Piccolomini, Tevel 1, ..., 8, Challenger, Delfi-PQ 1, Unicorn 2A, 2D, 2E, FossaSat 2E1, ..., 2E6, MDQube-SAT 1, SATLLA 2A, 2B, Unicorn 1, EASAT 2, HADES, Grizu-263a, PION-BR 1, SanoSat 1, Tartan-Artibeus 1, USA 320, ..., 323
USA 321 2022-002CX 2022-01-13 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Umbra 02, Capella 7, 8, ICEYE X14, X16, Sich 2-1, ION-SCV 004, Dodona, STORK 1, 2, LabSat, SW1FT, VZLUSAT 2, ETV A1, BRO 5, HYPSO 1, Kepler 16, ..., 19, Flock-4x 1, ..., 44, FOREST 1, Lemur-2 149, 150, Lemur-2 146, 147, DEWA-Sat 1, NuX 1, IRIS A, MDASat 1a, 1b, 1c, Gossamer Piccolomini, Tevel 1, ..., 8, Challenger, Delfi-PQ 1, Unicorn 2A, 2D, 2E, FossaSat 2E1, ..., 2E6, MDQube-SAT 1, SATLLA 2A, 2B, Unicorn 1, EASAT 2, HADES, Grizu-263a, PION-BR 1, SanoSat 1, Tartan-Artibeus 1, USA 320, ..., 323
USA 320 2022-002CV 2022-01-13 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Umbra 02, Capella 7, 8, ICEYE X14, X16, Sich 2-1, ION-SCV 004, Dodona, STORK 1, 2, LabSat, SW1FT, VZLUSAT 2, ETV A1, BRO 5, HYPSO 1, Kepler 16, ..., 19, Flock-4x 1, ..., 44, FOREST 1, Lemur-2 149, 150, Lemur-2 146, 147, DEWA-Sat 1, NuX 1, IRIS A, MDASat 1a, 1b, 1c, Gossamer Piccolomini, Tevel 1, ..., 8, Challenger, Delfi-PQ 1, Unicorn 2A, 2D, 2E, FossaSat 2E1, ..., 2E6, MDQube-SAT 1, SATLLA 2A, 2B, Unicorn 1, EASAT 2, HADES, Grizu-263a, PION-BR 1, SanoSat 1, Tartan-Artibeus 1, USA 320, ..., 323
USA 328 2022-064B 2022-06-19 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 329, 330, 331, Globalstar M087
USA 329 2022-064C 2022-06-19 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 328, 330, 331, Globalstar M087
USA 330 2022-064D 2022-06-19 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 328, 329, 331, Globalstar M087
USA 331 2022-064E 2022-06-19 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 328, 329, 330, Globalstar M087
USA 350 2024-050W 2024-03-19 AFWTR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Starlink v2-Mini G7-16-1, ..., G7-16-20, USA 351
USA 351 2024-050X 2024-03-19 AFWTR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Starlink v2-Mini G7-16-1, ..., G7-16-20, USA 350