The Air Force and launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) are set for Wednesday’s launch of two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites.
The launch will take place on one of ULA’s Delta IV rockets, which do not rely on the controversial RD-180 Russian first stage rocket engine. Launch is set for 7:03 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. ULA spokeswoman Jessica Rye said Tuesday there was a 30 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, down from 40 percent Monday night.
GSSAP satellites will be a space-based capability operating in the near-geosynchronous orbit regime supporting U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) space surveillance operations as a dedicated space surveillance network (SSN) sensor, according to the Air Force.
Data from GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, enhancing knowledge of the geostationary earth orbit (GEO) environment and further enabling space flight safety to include satellite collision avoidance.
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) chief Gen. William Shelton said Tuesday the Air Force will use GSSAP satellites to be on the lookout “nefarious” capabilities other nations might place in what he called the critical GEO orbit.
“We do have an inherent right to safely maneuver around, and monitor, potentially threatening satellites,” Shelton said at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington.
ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA].