Newly established US Space Force launches first security mission

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The recently established United States Space Force has launched its first national security space mission. Amidst precautions pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a Lockheed Martin Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite took off from Cape Canaveral on 26 March.

One of the eight US uniformed services since December 2019, the Space Force was founded by the Trump administration to protect United States interests in space, conduct space operations and deter aggression in, from, and to space. In accordance with this overall mission, Lockheed Martin have stated the purpose of the satellite is to provide “vastly improved global, survivable, protected communications capabilities for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms.”

Costing around $1 billion, the satellite is the sixth and last one in the U.S. military’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency series. It will circle 22,000 miles above earth, serving US partners such as Canada and Holland as well, Engadget reports.

Because of the Covid-19 crisis, the viewing area at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force was closed. Moreover, non-essential staff members were prohibited from entering the launch control room, Time reported.

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