ULA’s Atlas 5 launches an experimental missile warning satellite

The $1.1 billion USSF-12 mission flew into geosynchronous orbit

WASHINGTON – The United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket on July 1 launched the USSF-12 mission of the United States Space Force. The rocket lifted off at 7:15 p.m. East from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

The $1.1 billion USSF-12 mission to geosynchronous orbit carried two satellites: the US Space Force’s Wide Field of View (WFOV) Missile Warning Spacecraft, and a ring-shaped payload converter with six satellite-rated experiments for a test program Department of Defense space. .

This was the 94th mission of the Atlas 5 missile. The first stage of the vehicle was powered by the RD-180 engine and Four solid rocket boosters, Centaur upper stage by a Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine. To encapsulate the satellites, ULA used a 5.4-meter-diameter payload made by Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space).

The USSF-12 was originally scheduled to fly in April but it was late For reasons not disclosed. The launch attempt on June 30 was rejected due to Bad weather.

WFOV is a Millennium Space Systems midsize spacecraft with an infrared sensor payload developed by L3Harris Technologies under a 2016 contract from the US Air Force. WFOV is a tested satellite, which means it is not part of an operational missile warning constellation but rather a stand-alone experiment.

At 1,000 kg, a WFOV is about a quarter of the size Satellite infrared system (SBIRS) is a spacecraft that currently performs strategic and tactical missile warning for the Department of Defense. ULA . will be launched The SBIRS-6 satellite in late July.

The WFOV satellite, equipped with a staring sensor, will be used to test various methods of collecting and reporting missile launch data. The Space Force said the research will guide the design of satellites to warn of future missiles. WFOV will be able to monitor up to a third of the Earth’s surface continuously.

Northrop Grumman built a small, ring-shaped lunar carrier payload, known as the ESPA thruster ring.

Both satellites on the USSF-12 are scheduled to reach orbit six hours after liftoff, a trajectory that would require three burns of the Centaur engine. ULA used an in-flight power system to keep the batteries of the WFOV stationary throughout the six-hour flight to geosynchronous orbit.