A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket is expected to carry two spy satellites into orbit early Friday.
- Satellites will view objects more than 22,000 miles above equator
- Two others were launched in October 2015
- People can watch the video coverage of launch
The launch window is between 12:47 a.m. to 1:52 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The rocket is part of the AFSPC 6 mission for the U.S. Air Force, which will carry the third and fourth satellites for the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP).
Back in October 2015, two GSSAP satellites were put into orbit. Space News reported back in October the purpose of the program:
“They are designed to keep tabs on objects in geosynchronous orbit, a belt of space 36,000 kilometers (News 13 note: about 22,369 miles) above the equator that is home to the Pentagon’s critical communications and missile warning satellites,” reported Space News based off of a news release.
People can watch video coverage here, which will come up at 12:27 a.m., Friday.
Date: Friday, Aug. 19, 2016
Vehicle: ULA Delta IV Medium
Mission: AFSPC-6 (2 Orbital ATK satellites for the Air Force)
Launch Site: SLC-37, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Window: 12:37 a.m. to 1:52 a.m.