Space Force launches first mission

The Hill ^ | 03 26 2020 | Rebecca Kheel

[yesthatjallen]

The U.S. Space Force conducted its first launch Thursday, sending a military communications satellite into orbit.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket blasted the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

“Congrats @ulalaunch on today’s successful launch of #AEHF6—our 1st USSF Nat’l Security Space Launch!" Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond tweeted Thursday, thanking those involved in the project.

The launch, deemed mission essential, went ahead Thursday despite the coronavirus outbreak that has infected at least 280 U.S. troops and disrupted training exercises, overseas deployments and other military activities.

SNIP

[Magnum44]

Just a new name for the same team that does this routinely. Great achievement none-the-less.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Atlas V is from the 60’s right?

[ctdonath2]

Watched live video of it.
Held launch at 4 minutes.
Solution sounded like “turn it off & on, try again.”

[Magnum44]

There is an Atlas ‘family’. This beast is not your grandfathers Atlas.

[tomkat]

Yep, the Gemini booster.

[Tijeras_Slim]

In a previous life I did radiation effects testing on some of the earlier AEHF hardware. Pretty mundane, but always fun to see your stuff go up.

[6ppc]

Gemini launched on Titan 2.

[Veggie Todd]

To infinity, and beyond!

[tomkat]

Yep, I misremembered - Titan .. sorry 'bout that, Chief   ;-)

[Magnum44]

Mercury booster. Mercury Atlas. Titan was for Gemini.

[Savage Beast]

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!

[SaveFerris]

Good thing Spock and Captain Kirk interrupted this guy and his cat! Oh, it wasn't an ICBM. Never mind.

[whinecountry]

For those wanting to know more about Space Force and why it is so critical to our future, I recommend this artice:

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/urgent-need-united-states-space-force/

[upchuck]

Wonder if the folks at NASA are jealous of Space Force?

[Whatever Works]

My dad used to do those launches. He was a manager at Cape Canaveral years ago. Dad is gone now, but the memories remain.

[Conan the Librarian]

I got to see the launch out the stern of the boat in the mooring field in Vero Beach. Great daytime launch. Night launches are quite nice from here too.

[BenLurkin]

[dfwgator]

“If the bitch is green, there must be something wrong with the p@ssy!”

[SaveFerris]

That was one amazing cat!