Starshield (generic) [SpaceX]
Official name USA 439
Alternative name Starshield G2-2-2 (USA 439)
Cospar ID 2024-225B
Norad ID 62164
Launch date 2024-11-30
Launch site AFWTR
Launch vehicle Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5)
Country/Organization USA
Type application Unknown
Operator NRO ?
RCS size UNKNOWN
Decay date ON ORBIT
Shape Box + 1 Pan
Mass (kg) 800
Height (m) 0.3
Width (m) 4.1
Depth (m) 4.1
Span (m^2) 29
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.

These satellites are likely prototypes for NRO's proliferated architecture of small satellites, of which NROL-146 was the first operational launch..

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
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
USA 438 2024-225A 2024-11-30 AFWTR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 439, Starlink v2-Mini GN-01-1, ..., GN-01-20
USA 439 2024-225B 2024-11-30 AFWTR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with USA 438, Starlink v2-Mini GN-01-1, ..., GN-01-20