Missile detection satellite launches from Florida

United Launch Alliance sent a new missile-warning satellite into orbit for the U.S. Space Force from Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

The Atlas V rocket lifted off at 1:37 p.m. EDT into a mostly blue sky from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After just a minute into flight, the vehicle traveled at 2,000 mph.

The satellite, known as SBIRS GEO 5, is the fifth in a series that use infrared sensors to detect missile launches around the world, according to the Space Force.

The rocket's Centaur second stage released the SBIRS satellite over the Indian Ocean about 43 minutes after launch into the intended orbit, according to ULA. The launch company plans to launch a sixth and final SBIRS satellite in 2022.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the spacecraft is the first of the SBIRS GEO to fly on an upgraded platform that provides better anti-jamming capability and more power, according to ULA's mission profile.

One of the infrared sensors "continuously scans the Earth" to provide around-the-clock global strategic missile warning capability, according to Lockheed Martin.

Another sensor, called a step-starer, has an accurate pointing and control system to scan "specific intelligence areas of interest," according to the company.

The SBIRS satellites were used in January 2020, when Iran attacked the Al Asad Airbase in Iraq, where U.S. troops were stationed, Air Force Lt. Adam Farah said during the mission webcast.

"Operators were able to use the SBIRS capabilities to detect the threat, warn our troops on the direct path of the missile," Farah said.

The rocket also carried two small demonstration satellites for the military, TD3 and TD4, sponsored by the Department of Astronautics and the U.S. Air Force Academy, according to a ULA announcer during the webcast.

ULA had postponed the launch Monday due to a potential problem detected by electronic sensors in the liquid oxygen propellant fuel supply system, the company said.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Rocket Lab mission failure blamed on possible engine problem
Washington DC (UPI) May 17, 2021
California-based launch company Rocket Lab has blamed a possible engine problem for the loss Saturday of its Electron rocket and commercial satellite payload. The rocket fell safely into the Pacific Ocean off the company's launch site in New Zealand due to an automatic shutdown triggered by safety systems, according to the company. It was the 20th mission for Electron and the second such failure in the past year. A pair of Earth observation satellites for Virginia-based BlackSky G ... read more