Powerful Atlas 5 rocket launches multi-satellite military payload

[EastCoastmetal]

Cool.







Taking advantage of near-ideal weather, the rocket's Russian-built RD-180 first stage engine roared to life at 7:13 p.m. ET, followed moments later by ignition of five strap-on solid-fuel boosters, almost instantly pushing the 20-story rocket skyward.

Mounted in the rocket's nose cone were a military communications support satellite and another experimental spacecraft carrying multiple experiments, including a free-flying sub-satellite named Mycroft, presumably after Sherlock Holmes' older brother.

All three were bound for a high orbit near the region where military and commercial communications satellites operate 22,300 miles above the equator.


Generating a combined 2.6 million pounds of thrust, the Atlas 5's workhorse Russian engine and the five strap-ons majestically pushed the rocket away from pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, leaving a churning cloud of exhaust and a crackling roar in its wake.


The fact sheet said the EAGLE satellite also carries sensors and experiments to "detect, identify and analyze system threats such as man-made disturbances, space weather events or collisions with small meteorites.

"Together, EAGLE and Mycroft help train operators and development of tactics, techniques and procedures during exercises or experiments to improve space war fighting."


Skipped a bunch.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-launch-alliance-atlas-5-rocket-launches-multi-satellite-pentagon-payload/

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Makes you wonder what was really launched doesn't it?

 

[EastCoastmetal]

Makes you wonder what was really launched doesn't it?

"Together, EAGLE and Mycroft help train operators and development of tactics, techniques and procedures during exercises or experiments to improve space war fighting."

 

[against the wind]

Makes you wonder what was really launched doesn't it?

You want to know what the real PAYLOAD is??
Just check Hillary's emails.

 

[RTR]

Prospecting from Earth orbit ? https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/ASTERProspecting/

 

[Mdbri]

Really?even here

 

[Kray Gelder]

Thanks for posting that. Cool! A question pops up...We use Russian built boosters to launch our military payloads? Are they an adversary, or not? Oops. That may be construed a quasi-political question.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Makes you wonder what was really launched doesn't it?

Geez, I was just in my lower yard peeing on the grass. They probably have a hi-def picture of that!

A question pops up...We use Russian built boosters to launch our military payloads?

Yeah, I've been wondering why as well - we used to do our own rockets. What happened, and where are we going with our own technology? Bad ju-ju Bwana!

 

[EastCoastmetal]

Thanks for posting that. Cool! A question pops up...We use Russian built boosters to launch our military payloads? Are they an adversary, or not? Oops. That may be construed a quasi-political question.

Its Complicated. But for one thing ,Russia has had some of the most powerful engines since like the 1950s? Read an article a few years ago about it, and they mothballed them due to lack of funding/political stuff , then the US bought some like 30 years later. Maybe I can find it again.

Most of the BS you read/hear is political nonsense. If countries actually started working together, we would accomplish great things, maybe we are getting close to that now.

Or maybe the new battle fields are going to be in space. Since we messed up parts of the earth over the last 100 years with stupid wars and nuclear testing ,Depleted Uranium Shells etc etc.

 

[EastCoastmetal]

Really?even here

Well it is the Everything Else thread. Not sure where else to put space related stuff.

 

[EastCoastmetal]

Pretty interesting stuff.

The space economy is going to be Yuge!

President Donald J. Trump is Unveiling an America First National Space Strategy
INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY

Issued on: March 23, 2018



Our travels beyond the Earth propel scientific discoveries that improve our lives in countless ways here, right here, at home: powering vast new industry, spurring incredible new technology, and providing the space security we need to protect the American people.

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH: President Trump’s space strategy builds on the National Security Strategy emphasizing peace through strength in the space domain.

The strategy affirms that any harmful interference with or attack upon critical components of our space architecture that directly affects this vital interest will be met with a deliberate response at a time, place, manner, and domain of our choosing.

President Trump’s National Space Strategy recognizes that our competitors and adversaries have turned space into a warfighting domain.


While the United States would prefer that the space domain remain free of conflict, we will prepare to meet and overcome any challenges that arise.

Under the President’s new strategy, the United States will seek to deter, counter, and defeat threats in the space domain that are hostile to the national interests of the United States and our allies.

Strengthen deterrence and warfighting options: We will strengthen U.S. and allied options to deter potential adversaries from extending conflict into space and, if deterrence fails, to counter threats used by adversaries for hostile purposes.

Improve foundational capabilities, structures, and processes: We will ensure effective space operations through improved situational awareness, intelligence, and acquisition processes.

On December 11, 2017, President Trump once again set America’s sights toward the stars by signing Space Policy Directive – 1, which instructed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to return American astronauts to the moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations.

In signing the directive, the President ordered action to work with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system.

Skipped a bunch:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-unveiling-america-first-national-space-strategy/