Fourteen months after launching from Cape Canaveral, a military communications satellite has finally reached its intended orbit more than 22,000 miles above the planet. A premature engine shutdown hobbled the Air Force's first Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite shortly after an Atlas V rocket deployed it in orbit on Aug. 14, 2010.
Six smaller thrusters and an electronic propulsion system enabled the Lockheed Martin Corp.-built spacecraft to slowly inch its way upward, and it arrived at its destination Monday, according to the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, or SMC.
Despite needing "a sophisticated campaign" of roughly 500 engine burns to reach its geosynchronous orbit, the Air Force said the satellite's required 14-year mission life had not been compromised.
"I am extremely proud of the entire AEHF team for its ability to apply engineering excellence, superior teamwork and remarkable creativity to accomplish this very important milestone in the program," said Dave Madden, director of SMC's MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, in a statement.
The satellite is the first in a $6.5 billion program upgrading systems designed to provide the most secure military communications and to survive nuclear war. Find more background in this Air Force fact sheet.
The satellite now begins a four-month checkout period with plans to enter operations early in 2012.
1 comment:
The 500 ENGINE BURNS would not have been needed whatsoever if this satellite was held buoyant and 25 miles. But it is only a MILITARY ADVANTAGE to be higher...and at the expense of the environment!
Here is the censored TRUTH of how NASA really salutes its veterans:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/space-shuttles-and-rocket-launches-caused-1-billion-toxic-pollution
Also, total lies concerning man able to survive going to Mars. It would take a wall of water enveloping the spacecraft at least several meters thick, to protect the occupants from deadly cosmic rays. http://news.discovery.com/space/mission-to-mars-health-risks-110718.html
And even if it's just Mars Rovers going there, WHAT IS THE POINT? Is it to further scientific research on a diverse array of Mars rocks?
Not to mention that it is an ongoing HEALTH HAZARD to anyone even going into outer space earth orbit. Why are we subjecting human beings to this madness? Oh yes, the "conquering of space, the final frontier" brainwashing of the 'baby boomers'...who are now in charge.
http://tinyurl.com/cm367ex
Doesn't it appear that all of NASA's posts are so glamorous and seeming well-intentioned? Think again. They have an agenda to militarize space with their warmongering technology, at the expense of our atmospheric envelope and all life that depends upon our 'ocean of air'.
At NASA's environmental cleanup page,
http://www.ssc.nasa.gov/environmental/cleanup/clean.html, it says, "We take full responsibility for any problems caused by past practices and ensuring the protection of the environment and the health of the surrounding community."
That's all well and good, now what about the ongoing SOLID ROCKET FUEL program? Is this present technology ensuring the protection of the environment?
Float to space instead of rocketing there, and accomplish everything at a mere 25 miles altitude that was being done, 14X further, at 350 miles out.
Even the Space Station and Hubble Telescope would operate better at this altitude. Why? Because the highly toxic SOLID FUEL ROCKET BOOSTERS are left out of the equation.
With the commercialization of space looming, this toxic mess is going to EXPONENTIALLY increase with automation. Henry Ford went from one Model T to 250,000 Model T's in only six years.
Also, documentation of how Nazi turned into NASA, and still continues to wage war upon our environment.
What does HELEN CALDICOTT have to say about this ongoing insanity...endorsed by Obama?
http://darinselby.1hwy.com/floattospace.html
Post a Comment