Amateur Astronomer Captures Rare Images of Enigmatic Pentagon Spacecraft USA 290

Amateur Astronomer Captures Images of Mysterious Pentagon Spacecraft

An amateur astronomer in Austria has once again made headlines by capturing images of a secretive Pentagon spacecraft, just weeks after spotting a classified Chinese spaceplane. Felix Schöfbänker, using a 14-inch Dobsonian telescope specially designed for satellite tracking, has photographed a mysterious craft known as “USA 290.”

In an interview with Space.com, Schöfbänker described his process of cross-referencing captured images with specifications of various spy satellites launched by the Pentagon. While most of his recent observations have been of known National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) crafts, including Boeing-built Future Image Architecture (FIA)-Radar satellites and Keyhole (KH)-11 orbiters, USA 290 stood out as unique.

“In July, I managed to get a look at a satellite called ‘USA 290,’ which is suspected of possibly being another KH-11,” Schöfbänker told Space.com. “But my image shows a different kind of design, which doesn’t look like a typical KH-11.”

The image reveals a strange five-meter (16-foot) long panel on USA 290, a feature not typically seen on KH-11 satellites. Schöfbänker speculated that it could be a solar panel, though he noted its fixed position makes this less likely, as it would require the entire satellite to move to track the Sun.

Adding to the mystery, USA 290’s orbital behavior differs from that of typical KH-11 satellites. “KH-11s are launched into Sun-synchronous orbits,” Schöfbänker explained. “USA 290 wasn’t.”

Despite potentially capturing classified material, Schöfbänker remains unconcerned about legal repercussions. He believes that most countries are not overly worried about amateur astronomers imaging their spacecraft, given that many nations have their own observatories dedicated to such activities.

This discovery marks Schöfbänker’s second significant find this summer, following his earlier spotting of a secretive Chinese craft in August. As amateur astronomers continue to push the boundaries of what can be observed from Earth, the line between civilian sky-watching and inadvertent reconnaissance becomes increasingly blurred.