US Space Force is going to launch a spy satellite in the Minotaur IV rocket today for a top-secret agency. NASA is going to fire all of the 4 satellites into the orbit from a launchpad in Virginia, as NASA has previously said.
The US President Donald Trump is sending Space Force which will fire four top-secret satellites into orbit from a launchpad in Virginia today. A Minotaur IV rocket will carry the classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the US agency tasked with operating spy satellites.
The Northrop Grumman-built rocket, using three retired Peacekeeper missile stages and a commercial solid rocket motor upper stage, is standing on pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
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Our next launch is a Minotaur IV lifting off July 15 from @VCSFA_MARS Pad 0B at Wallops. Live stream begins at 8:30 a.m.; launch window opens at 9 a.m. Our Visitor Center is closed due to COVID-19; if visiting, please wear a mask and stay 6ft apart. https://t.co/bfvVPQ9lvV
— NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) July 8, 2020
NASA ready to launch Minotaur IV today
Once successful, the mission will mark the first time the US Space Force has launched from Nasa’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The rocket was built by US aerospace firm Northrop Grumman. Due to the classified nature of the mission, the launch time has not been disclosed.
It’s a go for launch of a Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket on July 15 from Nasa’s Wallops Flight Facility. Nasa released this more information.
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The weather continues to look favorable for the launch today. The 16,000 airmen and civilians that make up the Space Force are technically part of the Air Force, which previously oversaw offensive operations in space. The window for today’s launch opens at 9 AM ET (2 PM BST). However, the official liftoff time is classified.
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