CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – An Atlas V rocket carrying two GSSAP satellites for the U.S. Space Systems Command into near geosynchronous Earth orbit launched Friday afternoon from Florida’s Space Coast.
United Launch Alliance launched the rocket at 2 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 41.
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ULA says the satellites will act like a neighborhood watch to improve flight safety for all spacecraft in that orbit, improving the ability to avoid collisions or near-collisions.
It’s the second launch this week from the Space Coast. A SpaceX rocket carrying a batch of Starlink satellites launched Tuesday evening from Kennedy Space Center.
#GEM63 solid rocket booster burnout and jettison is confirmed for the #AtlasV 511. The rocket continues towards orbit on the power of its main engine, and will more than triple its speed in the two minutes remaining in first stage flight.
— ULA (@ulalaunch) January 21, 2022