A ULA operated Atlas V 551 rocket successfully launched the US Space Force STP 3 mission which involved the STPSAT-6 technology test satellite. The launch used five GEM-63 solid rocket boosters as well as a single standard RL10C-1 engine on the Centaur upper stage. The launch took place at 1019 GMT on 7 December from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Also aboard was the LDPE-1 (Rooster) spacecraft delivery satellite, itself carrying cubesat class satellites including the Ascent spacecraft, a 12U cubesat for the AFRL (US Air Force Research Laboratory). The spacecraft are set to operate in a 36,000 km geostationary orbit.
STP Mission 3 (STPSAT-6 et al) are launched by an Atlas V 551. Courtesy: ULA
12 hours ago, an #AtlasV 551 rocket lifted off from SLC-41 with #STP3, starting ULA’s longest duration mission at seven hours and 10 minutes until spacecraft separation. pic.twitter.com/eB93RNDMLv
— ULA (@ulalaunch) December 7, 2021
