The $ 1.1 billion USSF-12 mission flew into Earth’s geosynchronous orbit
WASHINGTON – A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched the USSF-12 mission for the US Space Force on July 1. The rocket took off at 7:15 p.m., east from the 41st Space Launch Complex at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
The $ 1.1 billion USSF-12 mission in Earth’s geosynchronous orbit carried two satellites: the Wide Field of View (WFOV) missile warning spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force and a ring-shaped payload adapter with six classified experiments for small satellites for the DoD space testing program. .
This was the 94th mission of the Atlas 5 rocket. The first stage of the vehicle was powered by an RD-180 engine and four solid rocket engines, and the upper stage Centaur with an Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine. To encapsulate the satellites, ULA used a 5.4-meter-diameter payload fairing made by Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space).
The USSF-12 was originally scheduled to fly in April, but was delayed for undisclosed reasons. An attempt to launch on June 30 was rejected due to bad weather conditions.
WFOV is a medium-sized spacecraft manufactured by Millennium Space Systems with an infrared sensor payload developed by L3Harris Technologies under a 2016 U.S. Air Force contract. WFOV is a test bench satellite, meaning it is not part of an operational missile warning constellation but a stand-alone experiment.
At 1,000 kilograms, the WFOV is approximately a quarter of the space-based Infrared Space System (SBIRS) spacecraft currently conducting a strategic and tactical missile alert for the Department of Defense. ULA will launch the SBIRS-6 satellite in late July.
The WFOV satellite, equipped with a fixing sensor, will be used to test different ways to collect and report missile launch data. The Space Force said the investigation will report on the design of future missile warning satellites. WFOV will be able to continuously control up to a third of the Earth’s surface.
Northrop Grumman built the payload in the form of a ring, known as a propulsive ESPA ring.
The two USSF-12 satellites are expected to reach orbit six hours after takeoff, a trajectory that requires three Centaur engine burns. ULA used an in-flight power system to keep WFOV satellite batteries charged during the six-hour flight into geosynchronous orbit.