Author Topic: Atlas V 541 - USSF-12 (WFOV) - Canaveral SLC-41 - 1 July 2022 (23:15 UTC)  (Read 51135 times)

Offline Targeteer

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https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/Documents/PRESS%20RELEASES/SPACE%20SYSTEMS%20COMMAND.pdf?ver=WhYUC8tAat79xzoKcx-1BQ%3D%3D

SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND
NEWS RELEASE
Space Systems Command successfully launches U.S. Space Force (USSF)-12 mission
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. – After a 24-hour postponement due to
inclement weather, Space Systems Command (SSC) and its mission partners successfully
launched the United States Space Force (USSF)-12 mission aboard a United Launch Alliance
Atlas V 541 rocket, containing the Wide Field of View (WFOV) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
(GEO) Testbed and USSF-12 Ring satellites, today at 7:15 p.m. EDT (4:15 p.m. PDT) from Space
Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
“USSF-12’s successful launch is a remarkable achievement for the entire team,” said Col.
Brian Denaro, SSC program executive officer for Space Sensing. “This mission was a successful
joint endeavor between SSC, NASA, and industry partners to advance Overhead Persistent
Infrared (OPIR) technologies and concept of operations (CONOPS) through on-orbit
demonstration of new materials and techniques. It’s the perfect example of how SSC is
collaboratively leaning forward to bring exciting new space capabilities to the USSF and our
mission partners.”

The co-primary space vehicle, SSC’s WFOV GEO Testbed, was designed to push the art of
the possible across several technologies:
• The first in its class of sensor sensitivity across total field of view (Can track dim
targets over large areas, improving worldwide coverage, in support of missilewarning
architecture)
• Pathfinding Space Force process for new sensor operationalization and Integrated
Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) certification
With the ability to monitor up to one-third of the Earth’s surface simultaneously, SSC’s
WFOV GEO will also advance our target identification and characterization capabilities; an
important part of the integrated missile warning, tracking and defense (MW/MT/MD)
architecture in which SSC is partnering with the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the
Missile Defense Agency (MDA). This will enable the warfighter to rapidly identify, characterize,
track, and defeat missile threats from near-peer adversaries. This prototype provides critical
and foundational test, concept of operations, engineering, and risk reduction for the future
missile warning, tracking, and defense space architecture.
The other co-prime space vehicle, the DoD Space Test Program (STP)’s USSF-12 Ring, is
part of Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar product line which provides modular, flexible features.
When combined with available launch opportunities, Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar product
line creates a “freight train to space” for experiments and prototypes in geosynchronous Earth
orbit.
The STP executes the annual DoD Space Experiments Review Board (SERB) process and
consolidates requirements from the Science and Technology (S&T) community. STP designs and
executes missions to maximize launch mass to orbit while offering innovative, agile, and
affordable solutions for government, commercial, and international partners. STP experiments
provide cutting-edge technology validation and accelerate space capability architectures prior
to operational use. Following a successful USSF-12 launch, STP will have completed 291
missions and provided space access for 636 DoD experiments.
Tonight’s launch marked the 92nd National Security Space Launch, and the 36th Atlas V
launch from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This is the sixth launch of an
Atlas V with the new Northrop Grumman-built Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM)-63 strap on solid
rocket boosters, and a preview of the larger GEM 63XL boosters that will be used on ULA’s
future Vulcan Centaur launch vehicles.
“This launch was successful due to the outstanding partnership between government,
industry, and mission partners. This history-making and complex endeavor exemplifies SSC’s
commitment to pursuing new, innovative ways of delivering reliable, responsive, and leadingedge
space capabilities to the Space Force, DoD, and, ultimately, the warfighter,” said Col. Erin
Gulden, SSC’s senior materiel leader, Launch Execution Acquisition Delta and USSF-12 mission
director. “This collaborative mission continues our satellite, launch, and ground technology
innovations, enhances our new system developments, and forges stronger partnerships across
our space industrial base, which enables the U.S. to remain competitive across the space
domain.”
Space Systems Command, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo,
California, is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for rapidly developing, acquiring,
equipping space capabilities. SSC mission capability areas include launch acquisition and
operations, communications and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), space sensing, battle
management command, control and communications (BMC3), and space domain awareness &
combat power.
###
Interested media representatives may submit questions regarding this topic by sending an email
to [email protected]
Get the latest Space Systems Command and Los Angeles Garrison news at:
www.ssc.spaceforce.mil & www.losangeles.spaceforce.mil
Facebook: @SpaceSystemsCommand
LinkedIn: @USSF-SSC
Twitter: @USSF_SSC
Instagram: @USSF_SSC
Space and Missile Systems Center – Building the future of military space today
#DiscoverSSC #SpaceStartsHere #SSC #SemperSupra
« Last Edit: 07/04/2022 08:08 pm by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Targeteer

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52940    WFOV (USA 332)            2022-073A   PAYLOAD   US   2022-07-01   AFETR
52941    USA 333                           2022-073B   PAYLOAD   US                  
52942    ATLAS 5 CENTAUR R/B   2022-073C   ROCKET BODY   
52943    ATLAS 5 CENTAUR DEB   2022-073D   DEBRIS   US   
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline zubenelgenubi

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https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/experimental-missile-warning-satellite-will-test-tech-for-space-force-use-in-multiple-orbits/ [July 1]

Experimental missile warning satellite will test tech for Space Force use in multiple orbits

Quote
[WFOV] was originally set for launch in August 2021, and was again delayed this spring for unspecified reasons. (The satellite itself was cleared for shipping to the Space Force in June 2020.)
<snip>
The overall cost of the USSF-12 mission is approximately $1.1 billion, an SSC spokesperson said, but for proprietary reasons wasn’t able to provide a breakdown between the two payloads.

And a little information about the 4k by 4k infrared staring focal plane  array.
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1544702984881332224

Quote
New interesting secret viewing spot. Crank up the volume and don’t tell Pad Safety!  #USSF12

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https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1544702984881332224

Quote
New interesting secret viewing spot. Crank up the volume and don’t tell Pad Safety!  #USSF12
Honestly, the best part of that video was how calmly it just fell over at the end...  ;D

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1545078585416749057

Quote
Double bullseyes on a set of very complex, high energy, orbital insertions. #AtlasV #USSF12. For your viewing pleasure…

Offline LouScheffer

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Is the inertial navigation system at all a factor in orbital accuracy?  Or is this almost entirely driven by variation in the thrust-cutoff transients?

Offline Jim

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Is the inertial navigation system at all a factor in orbital accuracy?  Or is this almost entirely driven by variation in the thrust-cutoff transients?

both

Offline baldusi

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Is the inertial navigation system at all a factor in orbital accuracy?  Or is this almost entirely driven by variation in the thrust-cutoff transients?
I would say that it depends on anything whose accuracy descriptions includes a non-zero "+e" factor at the end. ;D

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52940    WFOV (USA 332)            2022-073A   PAYLOAD   US   2022-07-01   AFETR
52941    USA 333                           2022-073B   PAYLOAD   US                  
52942    ATLAS 5 CENTAUR R/B   2022-073C   ROCKET BODY   
52943    ATLAS 5 CENTAUR DEB   2022-073D   DEBRIS   US   

52940    WFOV (USA 332)   2022-073A   1461.91   0.08   36343   36238
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Cross-post:
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1561108121665380353
Quote
Jonathan McDowell @planet4589
Space-Track has cataloged USA 337, a new payload (presumably 100 kg ESPASat class) ejected from the USSF 12 Ring spacecraft launched on Jul 1 to near-synchronous orbit. However, the orbital elements are currently secret. Catalog is 53521 (2022-073E). [Aug 20]
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Offline Targeteer

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https://www.millennium-space.com/media/u-s-space-force-sscs-geo-wide-field-of-view-on-orbit

U.S. Space Force SSC’s GEO Wide Field of View On Orbit

8/22/2022

 -

News Release

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., August 22, 2022 – The United States Space Force Space Systems Command’s Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Wide Field ofView Testbed is online and the bus checkout is complete.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Blossom Point Tracking Facility successfully acquired WFOV and is operating the satellite. Data is processed through Blossom Point and coordinated with Space Control Network. 

    “First acquisition was right on time utilizing the Space Force’s Satellite Control Network,” said Lisa Anderson, NRL’s lead for the mission. “We look forward to getting WFOV to its operational location and conducting checkout with the dedicated WFOV antenna located in Geraldton, Australia.”

SSC’s GEO WFOV space vehicle was designed, built and integrated by Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, including the integration of the Space Force’s sensor built by L3Harris.

    “With WFOV online, we’re going to see critical data that will inform the future Overhead Persistent Infrared architecture,” said Jason Kim, chief executive officer, Millennium Space Systems. “We’re excited for what’s next! Thank you to Space Force Satellite Control Network and United Launch Alliance for a great ride.”

Sponsored by SSC and managed by the NASA Ames Research Center, the mid-sized GEO spacecraft launched aboard USSF-12, a ULA rocket, July1.


About Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, delivers high-performing prototype and constellation solutions across advanced national security and environmental observation missions. Founded in 2001, the company's small satellite missions support government, civil and commercial space customers' needs across orbits.

Media Contact
Dana Carroll, Vice President of Marketing
E-mail: [email protected]
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Offline Rondaz

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Tory Talk // Atlas V USSF-12


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« Last Edit: 12/02/2022 01:51 am by zubenelgenubi »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

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https://www.millennium-space.com/media/space-forces-wide-field-of-view-achieves-first-light

Space Force’s Wide Field of View achieves First Light

11/29/2022

 -

News Release

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., November 29, 2022 – The United States Space Force Space Systems Command’s Wide Field of View Testbed transmitted its “First Light” mission data-product. Performing the satellite’s mission operations, Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing (NYSE: BA) company, secured the data beginning October 25.

    “Achieving this major milestone is a huge accomplishment, and we are very excited to enter into the calibration phase of this program,” said Col Heather Bogstie, senior materiel leader for Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking and Defense Acquisition Delta, Space Systems Command. “After seeing the initial images, our team is pleased with how well this sensor is performing. Soon, we will be able to assess it for operations in the missile warning architecture against new and emerging threats.”

First Light is the focal plane's first exposure in space and is a critical step toward demonstrating WFOV’s next generation large-format focal plane technology. The system can simultaneously stare at and scan an unprecedented 3,000-plus kilometers of the Earth at any one time.

Calibration is now underway and is scheduled to run through January 2023. Following calibration, SSC’s Tools, Applications and Processing Laboratory, or Tap Lab, in Boulder, Colorado will refine algorithms to exploit WFOV’s data, giving decisionmakers greater awareness over certain regions of the world.

    “It’s all about the data now,” said Jason Kim, chief executive officer, Millennium Space Systems. “What we learn from this critical testbed will inform future overhead persistent infrared missions. At the same time, there are still so many ways in which this data can be exploited that we don’t know about and that we will learn about in the months and years to come.”

Millennium Space Systems was recently awarded a one-year operations and sustainment contract to continue supporting WFOV. The contract also includes two additional one-year option periods.
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Offline catdlr

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Missile Warning/Missile Tracking 2023

 Mar 30, 2023
Quote
US Space Force Col. Heather Bogstie discusses missile warning and tracking.
Based on the results from USSF-12.

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