Air force base in California launched a spy-satellite
Equipment data of the satellite were not disclosed, but SpaceFlight argues that the onboard apparatus may be a device that can clock to view specific objects on the Ground.
NEW YORK, September 24. /TASS/. Booster Atlas V with satellite NROL-42 National management of military space exploration (novcr) was launched on Sunday from launch complex air force base Vandenberg in California. This was announced by the American company United Launch Alliance (ULA).
Originally the launch was scheduled for Friday but was postponed at the last minute because of the need to replace the battery in the booster vehicle.
Information about the cargo and equipment of the satellite was not disclosed, and terms of its operation, goals and objectives.
According to novcr, NROL-42 is designed to detect potential threats to national interests of the United States.
According to the online resource SpaceFlight, the spacecraft can also be the instrument HEO-4, which is equipped with infrared sensors, allowing to conduct surveillance on certain objects on the Ground. According to specialists of the resource, the main purpose of NROL-42 is operative to record rocket launches in the Northern hemisphere.
The start Sunday was the seventh in a row at ULA this year and the 121st since the founding of the company in 2006. This company is a joint venture between aviation giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The number of missions ULA made for novcr reached 25.
29 July 2016, ULA launched from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral (Florida) launch vehicle Atlas V with NROL unit-61. March 1, 2017, the company realized a launch from Vandenberg AFB (California) booster Atlas V with satellite NROL-79.