SpaceX launched 13 military satellites into space. The company of American entrepreneur Elon Musk used a reusable Falcon 9 rocket for this, reports the Space Development Agency (SDA).
The launch vehicle launched the satellites into the launch orbit, where SDA will begin testing and performance check procedures, after which they will rise to an altitude of 1,000 kilometers. Work on the creation of a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit is being carried out as part of the Proliferated Warfighter program. Its mission is to detect and track missile launches and provide “global military communications.”
“While the launch is very exciting news, what really matters is what we demonstrate in orbit – the ability to provide the warfighter with tactical data links, beyond visual line of sight targeting and a missile warning/tracking system for advanced missiles,” said the SDA director. Derek Tournear.
Earlier, the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Space X and Boeing are collecting visual and radar data for Ukraine. According to him, American private companies are involved “to solve a specific problem” – to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with the ability to target ballistic missiles or operate a multiple launch rocket system.