SpaceX propelled 21 satellites into orbit on Wednesday from California, acting on behalf of the U.S. military’s Space Development Agency.
The Falcon 9 rocket ascended at 4:06 p.m. PDT from Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Approximately 8 1/2 minutes afterward, the initial stage touched down on the autonomous vessel Of Course I Still Love You situated in the Pacific Ocean. This rocket booster had been utilized in seven prior missions, including the inaugural Tranche 1 Transport launch on Sept. 10 featuring 21 satellites.
These satellites constitute a portion of the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer, which will eventually consist of 126 orbital units in low-Earth orbit, designed to “furnish worldwide communications access and deliver ongoing regional encrypted connectivity in support of warfighter operations around the globe,” per the SDA.
The network will employ swift optical and radio frequency links installed on the Transport SVs “to attain elevated data speeds at remarkably low response times.”
“The Transport Layer will be a broad constellation involving hundreds of space vehicles (SVs), positioned in low-Earth orbit (LEO),” the agency stated. “Further Transport Layer SVs are sent to enhance robustness and supply specific technological upgrades.”
The Trench 2 launches are slated to commence in fiscal year 2027 with the purpose of “both renewing and improving the capabilities offered by Tranche 1 through amplifying the aggregate count of SVs and incorporating novel functionalities,” encompassing innovative tactical data links and new waveforms, it indicated.
The subsequent launch from Vandenberg is scheduled for Friday evening, consisting of 28 Starlink satellites.
SpaceX also intends to deploy 28 Starlink satellites at 5:27 a.m. EDT Thursday from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The private firm’s latest launch from Florida took place Monday evening, involving 24 Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon’s broadcasting internet venture. The Falcon 9 took flight at 11:27 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Sourse: www.upi.com
