A SpaceX Falcon 9 to dispatch 72 spacecraft to orbit on Monday, June 12th -- USSF's SSC has 3 experimental ...
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-8 mission to LEO is expected to occur at Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E), at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 57 minute launch window opens at 2:19 p.m. PT (21:19 UTC). If needed, there is a backup opportunity on Tuesday, June 13th, with the same window.
More Context
From which launch site did the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink satellites launch?
The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, and four Starlink missions.
Following 1st stage separation, Falcon 9 will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Transporter-8 is SpaceX's eighth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There will be 72 payloads on this flight, including smallsats, a re-entry capsule and orbital transfer vehicles (OTV) carrying spacecraft for orbit deployment at a later time.
A live webcast of this mission will start about 15 minutes prior to liftoff at this direct link...
As a member of this mission, Space Systems Command (SSC)'s Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power (SDA&CP) and partner Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is preparing to launch the Department of Defense's Space Test Program (STP)-CR2301 mission to deliver three experimental satellites to LEO.v
The three experimental satellites to be delivered by STP-CR2301 to LEO include two Modular Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (MISR) CubeSats and an XVI military communications spacecraft. The MISR CubeSats demonstrate two-way communications with ground devices as well as experiment with novel methods for the DoD to tactically leverage smallsat capabilities. The XVI CubeSat will test the capacity of the Link-16 network to communicate to space.
STP-CR2301 is another example of demonstrating commercially available rideshare solutions for placing USSF satellite capabilities on-orbit, providing flexibility and resiliency for the USSF, and supporting warfighter requirements in an increasingly contested environment.
STP-CR2301 is managed by the DoD STP office located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SSC's SDA&CP headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, administers the DoD STP which delivers experimental demonstrations of new capabilities and expedient space access solutions for research and development experiments.
SDA&CP is the program executive office within SSC that is responsible for delivering ground- and space-based infrastructure and systems that identify threats to national, allied, and commercial space systems. Its innovations integrate seamlessly across the space enterprise and promote deterrence by providing advances in space-enabled warfighting capabilities to our joint military forces.
"Cultivating multiple paths to space for experimental satellites is imperative to maintain continued access as space becomes further congested and contested. STP manifests experiments based on the prioritized list of critical space technologies generated by the Space Experiment Review Board (SERB) as well as the ability of the payloads to meet the launch dates, and orbital requirements. STP is proud to be the front door for experimental satellites looking for a ride to space."
-- Lt. Col. Jonathan Shea, SSC's director of the DoD's Space Test Program
SSC is the U.S. Space Force's field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war fighting capabilities to protect our nation's strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages an $11 billion space acquisition budget for the DoD and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
Photo of a Falcon 9 rocket on launch pad courtesy of SpaceX
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