New missile warning satellite launched from Cape Canaveral
By: Brandon Knapp
RE:
https://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/20...ape-canaveral/
Photo on site shows launch: An Atlas 5 rocket carrying the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission for the U.S. Air Force lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41. (Ben Cooper/United Launch Alliance)
The Air Force launched the fourth satellite in its next-generation missile warning constellation aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The Space Based Infrared System satellite, informally known as GEO-4, is designed to provide the United States global infrared surveillance capabilities in missile detection and defense, especially as tensions continue to rise over North Korea’s ICBM program.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the SBIRS program. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments estimated the satellite cost approximately $1.7 billion.
The launch was the second within a week for ULA, a joint venture from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. On Jan. 12, ULA successfully launched a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office aboard a Delta 4 rocket from at Vandenberg Air Force base in California.
The Jan. 19 launch featured an Atlas 5 411 rocket, powered by one solid rocket booster.
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Note by Boats: All these satellites in space along with - years of others - plus the space station - its no wonder that we don't have collisions and/or pieces of these satellites falling into the atmosphere and then onto random countries in the very near future. The last photo I saw showed hundreds of satellites and millions of pieces or space debris just floating around waiting to either burn up in our atmosphere or hit someone or thing
or someone below at any given time?