A Falcon 9 rocket launched into orbit with a constellation of ten satellites of the US Space Force’s new missile attack warning system. It is reported by Interfax with reference to the carrier developer SpaceX.
The launch was carried out from the SLC-4E launch pad at US Space Force Vandenberg Base in California at 07:29 Pacific Coast Time (17:29 Moscow time).
The Tranche 0 spacecraft are the first part of the Space Force Proliferated Warfighter space architecture under development. The new early warning system will consist of a multi-layer network of satellites and supporting elements that will provide global military communications and missile warning, indication and tracking capabilities in low Earth orbit at a height of 950 km.
The group of vehicles launched on Sunday, weighing 150 kg each, includes two satellites for detecting and tracking launches of hypersonic and ballistic missiles equipped with infrared sensors with a wide field of view (OPIR), and eight satellites for laser communications, data routing, navigation and a backup control system.
As part of the launch, the first reusable stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which is being used for the second time, is scheduled to make a controlled vertical landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base about eight minutes after launch.
Source: Rosbalt
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