WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Space Force launched a host of experimental payloads into orbit along with a NASA satellite Dec. 7 as part of the Space Test Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine Space Force payloads selected by the Defense Department\u2019s Space Experiment Review Board were integrated with the Space Test Program-6 satellite, or STPSat-6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary payload was the Energy Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration\u2019s Atmospheric Burst Reporting System, built to provide an improved ability to detect nuclear detonations. Also on board was NASA\u2019s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration payload, designed to demonstrate laser communications for the civilian space agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While not all of the payloads were identified, the Space Force said they covered a host of capabilities, including space domain awareness, weather and more. Northrop Grumman acted as the primary contractor for the spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STPSat-6 was launched out of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Originally slated for a Dec. 5 launch, the mission was pushed back due to a fuel leak in the ground equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSTP-3\u2032s successful launch and acquisition is a remarkable achievement for the entire team,\u201d Col. Brian Denaro, program executive officer for space development, said in a statement. \u201cThis mission advances military and civil experimentation objectives by demonstrating next generation space technologies in nuclear detonation detection, space situational awareness, weather, and communication by providing critical data needed to reduce risk for future space programs. It\u2019s the perfect example of how SSC is collaborating to bring exciting new space capabilities to the Space Force, our mission partners, and the warfighters we support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The launch mission also carried the Space Force\u2019s Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE)-1 spacecraft into orbit. This is the first of multiple planned LDPE missions, and it uses a modular setup that enables it to host multiple experimental payloads and prototypes in geosynchronous orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Space Force refers to the system as a \u201cfreight train to space.\u201d The program is overseen by Space Systems Command\u2019s Rapid Development Division within the Development Corps. LPDE-1 payloads feature space domain awareness, communications and space weather sensing capabilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Among the technologies launched is a Department of Energy payload built to provide better detection of nuclear detonations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":80797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":37,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"10":{"categories":["space","military-space-report","newsletters","home","daily-news-roundup"],"primary_category":"space"}}},"categories":[7,106,29,32,37],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3143],"class_list":["post-28333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-battlefield-tech","category-daily-brief","category-home","category-newsletters","category-space"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"WQZFJLIU4FASDEGIOYTQSDNYGQ","arc_canonical_url":"\/battlefield-tech\/space\/2021\/12\/07\/space-force-launches-experimental-payloads-into-orbit\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n