The Air Force and launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) are set for Friday’s launch of the third and fourth Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites, according to a service statement.
The launch window opens at 12:47 a.m. EDT. The mission, known as AFSPC-6, will take place on a Delta IV at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
The two GSSAP satellites, developed by Orbital ATK [OA], will further the space situational awareness (SSA) mission by providing precise data seven days a week, 24 hours per day. The satellites join a GSSAP constellation currently supporting U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) space surveillance operations as a dedicated Space Surveillance Network sensor.
As of Wednesday at press time, there is a 20 percent chance of violating weather constraints for Friday’s launch. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA].