The Atlas V CST-100 Starliner rocket was launched for the final time from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 20, 2019, the day the U.S. Space Force was established.
On Tuesday (May 19), the U.S. Space Force launched a billion-dollar missile warning satellite, placing the satellite into space orbit. The satellite will help detect any missile that strikes the United States and its allies.
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the satellite space station at 1:37 p.m. EDT Tuesday.
In a tweet, ULA announced, “Separation (of rocket and satellite) has been confirmed! The United Launch Alliance #AtlasV rocket has deployed the fifth Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Orbit Satellite (SBIRS Geo-5) to save lives through missile detection warning.”
To see a video of the launch, click here.
There was a 24-hour delay after the rocket launch due to a temperature sensor failure in ground equipment.
ULA President Tory Bruno mentioned “144” in a tweet, referring to ULA’s 144th successful mission.
Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government and commercial programs, said in a statement, “Thank you to our mission partners for their strong teamwork as we handle and launch such assets that provide robust surveillance and critical capabilities to protect our warfighters. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Space Force to continue to meet our nation’s national security needs.”
The launch, which lasted about ten and a half minutes, is the fifth in a series of space-based infrared system satellites designed to replace the Defense Support Program’s surveillance satellite constellation. The U.S. Space Force plans to launch six space-based infrared system satellites.
The Atlas V rocket was 194 feet tall and was the 87th launch of this rocket. Nearly 43 minutes after launch, the satellites and rocket separated and were deployed to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
According to the Space.com website, geosynchronous transfer orbits are high Earth orbits where satellites can match the Earth’s rotation.
Spaceflight Now, a U.S. space science Web site, reported Tuesday that the SBIRS Geo-5 satellite’s infrared payload has the ability to detect heat from missile exhausts around the world.
The $1 billion satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is designed to detect and track the plume from missile launches around the world with its on-board infrared sensors. Its capabilities will allow the U.S. and allied forces to prepare for an impending attack, NASA officials said.
The SBIRS Geo-5 satellite is fueled, weighs about 10,700 pounds (4,850 kilograms) and is equipped with advanced infrared scanning and gaze sensors that allow the military to track missiles that could threaten the United States and its allies.
The Associated Press reports that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $1.86 billion contract for new and improved satellites in addition to a satellite scheduled for launch in 2022. Both satellites are planned to operate at an altitude of 22,300 miles.
The U.S. military’s first SBIRS satellite was launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit in 2011.
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