Watch the first launch of the US Space Force

Armadilo · Mar 26, 2020

United Launch Alliance says its Atlas V rocket is ready to launch on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is set for 2:57pm (18:57 UTC) for the national security mission, which has a two-hour launch window. This is the first launch under the command of the newly constituted US Space Force.

For this mission, the Atlas V rocket will boost the sixth and final satellite in a constellation of military communications satellites in geostationary orbit. The "Advanced Extremely High Frequency" (AEHF) satellites are replacing the older Milstar communications system. The individual satellites cost $850 million each, and this AEHF-6 satellite to be launched Thursday was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The previous five AEHF satellites launched on Atlas V rockets from 2010 to 2019.

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Lyrick · Mar 26, 2020

Heavy payload? Why not save the $53M and use a Falcon 9?

Stinkles · Mar 26, 2020

Lyrick said:
Heavy payload? Why not save the $53M and use a Falcon 9?

Nowhere near Tremendous enough. People have never seen anything like this.

Ethical Hedonism · Mar 26, 2020

Lyrick said:
Heavy payload? Why not save the $53M and use a Falcon 9?

Well because then Lockheed Martin wouldn't get their contract.

m_shortpants · Mar 26, 2020

Did it launch?

Septy · Mar 26, 2020

m_shortpants said:
Did it launch?

No there's a problem they're working on

Jag · Mar 26, 2020

Septy said:
No there's a problem they're working on

Is it orange?

Armadilo · Mar 26, 2020

years from now, things will get interesting... the Future

Deleted member 44129 · Mar 26, 2020

They'll fire off a small rocket firework, FOX news will be like "HOLY SHIT WE LIVE IN STAR TREK NOW!", and within half an hour Trump supporters will start worrying about an influx of actual illegal aliens.

Mr.Awesome · Mar 26, 2020

What time does it go

Coyote Starrk · Mar 26, 2020

I still can't fucking believe it's called the god damn "Space Force".

Africanus II · Mar 26, 2020

Years from now this could represent the beginning of an era that would change humanity forever.
And yet most U.S. citizens are (rightfully) focused on something else. Crazy how life works.

papertowel · Mar 26, 2020

Lyrick said:
Heavy payload? Why not save the $53M and use a Falcon 9?

I think the real answer is these contracts were given out a decade ago. The Falcon 9 was just getting started. Don't even know if the 1st Falcon 9 design could put this thing into the desired orbit.

Ziltoidia 9 · Mar 26, 2020

Watching rockets go off always gets me going.

Deleted member 2809 · Mar 26, 2020

Hm nah

m0therzer0 · Mar 26, 2020

Coyote Starrk said:
I still can't fucking believe it's called the god damn "Space Force".

I mean, it's the next local step from "Air Force", and "Air Force One" was already taken.

lunarworks · Mar 26, 2020

Jag said:
Is it orange?

It's stuck inside all day so it's restless.

Pomerlaw · Mar 26, 2020

Africanus II said:
Years from now this could represent the beginning of an era that would change humanity forever.

How does it changes humanity for good?

TAJ · Mar 26, 2020

God_Of_Phwoar said:
They'll fire off a small rocket firework, FOX news will be like "HOLY SHIT WE LIVE IN STAR TREK NOW!", and within half an hour Trump supporters will start worrying about an influx of actual illegal aliens.

Millions of Trump supporters don't even think that space is real.

Torpedo Vegas · Mar 26, 2020

Coyote Starrk said:
I still can't fucking believe it's called the god damn "Space Force".

Space Balls would have been fitting.

Lulu · Mar 26, 2020

Giant Mechs when?

Kompis · Mar 26, 2020

m0therzer0 said:
I mean, it's the next local step from "Air Force", and "Air Force One" was already taken.

Airforce 360 is still available

Pickman · Mar 26, 2020

Successful launch, good on them. Anything going into space from US soil is the result of hundreds of small businesses in the production sector, so despite being a SpaceX fanboy, I'm happy to see this one as a success.

Desi · Mar 26, 2020

I'm still a bit confused because the U.S. Air Force does have a Space defense department. So what makes this different than them?

Horp · Mar 26, 2020

Since it's called Air Force this should be Vacuum Force.

m_shortpants · Mar 26, 2020

Desi said:
I'm still a bit confused because the U.S. Air Force does have a Space defense department. So what makes this different than them?

I believe the intention is for that to all fall into the Space Force going forward, but I might be wrong.

m0therzer0 · Mar 26, 2020

Kompis said:
Airforce 360 is still available

When the aliens see them they'll turn 360 degrees and fly away.

Dant21 · Mar 26, 2020

Desi said:
I'm still a bit confused because the U.S. Air Force does have a Space defense department. So what makes this different than them?

Nothing. They've essentially just renamed that department.

mbpm · Mar 26, 2020

So it launched? Adequate

Like the hat? · Mar 26, 2020

Desi said:
I'm still a bit confused because the U.S. Air Force does have a Space defense department. So what makes this different than them?

Trump gets to have his name attached to something

Watch the first launch of the US Space Force

Armadilo

Lyrick

Stinkles

Ethical Hedonism

Permanent ban for creating alt account to troll.

m_shortpants

Septy

Prophet of Truth

Jag

Armadilo

Deleted member 44129

User requested account closure

Mr.Awesome

Coyote Starrk

Africanus II

papertowel

Ziltoidia 9

Deleted member 2809

User requested account closure

m0therzer0

Mobile Gaming Product Manager

lunarworks

Pomerlaw

Erarboreal

TAJ

Torpedo Vegas

Lulu

Saw the truth behind the copied door

Kompis

Pickman

Desi

Horp

m_shortpants

m0therzer0

Mobile Gaming Product Manager

Dant21

mbpm

Like the hat?