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Surveillance System Open Source Data

The Naval Research Laboratory has published some interesting artwork that provides some insight into the configuration of the small Atlas-launched NOSS payloads of the 1970s and the much larger Navy Triplet launched on the Titan-4 in the early 1990s.

On a webpage entitled Naval Center for Space Technology Experience the following image is displayed.

Multiple Satellite Dispenser NOSS White Cloud

One of these spacecraft is immediately recognizable as the NOSS White Cloud spacecraft [this configuration has previously been depicted in Aviation Leak and Space Mythology]

This image is a bit puzzling, however, as it seems to depict four spacecraft, versus the three depicted in the other images

Titan Launch Dispenser [TLD] "Navy Triplet"

However, the other spacecraft is the first known public depiction of the Titan Launch Dispenser [TLD] which is the carrier vehicle for the "Navy Triplet" launched on the Titan-4.

Unfortunately, this depiction is not terribly detailed, so it is a bit difficult to make out just how the thing is constructed. The good news, however, is that if one takes a look at NRL's Spacecraft Assembly and Test Facility one finds this much more informative image:

Some other images have also become available

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Updated Monday, January 20, 1997