In case you missed it: US Space Force successfully performs its first launch

On Thursday (26th March), U.S. military’s newest branch successfully carried
out a satellite launch. The newly created branch of the military managed to
launch an Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) military
communications satellite to space. This spectacular satellite launch was
witnessed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Space Force First Ever Space Launch

The mission turned out a success despite experiencing several technical errors.
The take off process was delayed for an hour and twenty minutes. United Launch
Alliance experts, however, responded adequately to the minor glitch experienced
with the incorrect reading on the hydraulic equipment.

Space Force is a military unit officially put in place by President Trump’s
administration in December 2019. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Defense
tasked this team with managing space warfare. The Space Force is
responsible for monitoring outer space combat; participate in ground-to-space
combat as well as space-to-space wars.

The AEHT-6 satellite launch proceeded as planned amidst the global pandemic of
the Corona Virus (Covid-19). Serious precautions were taken to protect the workforce
against contracting the deadly virus. Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson terms the satellite
launcher a significant step by the government since it’s the first of its kind and a
dream-come-true for the U.S. Space Force.

“Even in the face of a global pandemic, like the current COVID-19 crisis, we must
continue to perform mission-essential tasks,” Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson,
commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base,
said in an interview with United Launch Alliance representatives.

He claims AEHF-6 is a well-crafted satellite launcher space system. The
constellation, which is worth $ 1.4 billion, will be operational in providing the U.S.
and its international partners secure Global Satellite Communication voice and data
all round the clock. ”This particular action extends the capability out into the
timeframe beyond 2030,” Thompson stressed.

Considering the satellite launch as the first-ever mission for the U.S. Space Force, it
was not expected to be a smooth ride. The Countdown was halted at T-Minus 46
seconds: A slight hiccup was detected on the hydraulic accumulator. However,
United Launch Alliance, which operated the Atlas 5 rocket, came to the rescue to
beat the projected satellite launch timeframe.

Space Force was established to be part of the U.S. military. It is now in league with
the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. The US satellite launch military
department is allocated a budget of $40m in its first year.