The publication of the Russian Space magazine, published by Roskosmos, admits the unknown purpose of the USA-310 spacecraft, launched on November 13 from Cape Canaveral in the interests of the US National Directorate of Military Space Intelligence with an Atlas V rocket powered by a Russian DR-180 engine.
“The mission, designated NROL-101, was originally scheduled for September, but was repeatedly postponed for technical reasons or due to unfavorable weather. The purpose of the launched spacecraft with the symbol USA-310, its characteristics and orbital parameters are classified, “the publication says.
“Messenger? Scout?” – ask a question in the edition called the main Russian space magazine.
In April, Dmitry Rogozin, general director of Roscosmos, said that the state corporation would not merge with the American company SpaceX, since the latter is a Pentagon contractor. Andrei Ionin, Corresponding Member of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, commenting on this statement by the official, noted that Roscosmos sells rocket engines to the United States, which are used in rockets that launch American military spacecraft.
In January 2018, Igor Arbuzov, CEO of the Energomash Research and Production Association (NPO), admitted that the enterprise he heads is heavily dependent on American orders, in particular, the bulk of the company's revenue is formed from the supply of RD-180 and RD- 181 in the United States.
