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Missile Defense Agency

MDA News Release

www.mda.mil
MDAPressOperations@mda.mil
5700 18th Street, Bldg 245
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5573

MDA, Space Force Confirm Successful Launch Of The Hypersonic And Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor And Tranche 0 Satellites

24-NEWS-0002
February 14, 2024

Today, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the U.S. Space Force confirmed the successful launch of six satellites to low-Earth orbit at 5:30 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellites, which include two satellites for MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) and the final four Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer satellites of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), were safely delivered to orbit and are conducting initial testing and checkout.

Today’s launch of the two prototype systems will be followed by two years of on-orbit testing. Over the next few weeks, MDA and Space Force engineers will run a series of tests and checkout procedures to ensure the satellites are operating and communicating with other systems as expected.

For more information, refer to the original press release found at: www.defense.gov

Please direct all MDA-related media queries to Mark Wright at 571-231-8212, Mark.Wright@mda.mil or Nancy Jones-Bonbrest at 571-363-0782, Nancy.J.Bonbrest@mda.mil. For more information on MDA please visit mda.mil.

Please direct all Space Force-related media queries to Jonathan Withington at 202-468-4553, jonathan.b.withington.civ@mail.mil.


IMAGE GALLERY

VIDEOS: B-Roll (Courtesy SpaceX)

Launch:The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) launch six satellites to low-Earth orbit on Feb. 14. The satellites were launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space utilizing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This included two satellites for MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) and the final four SDA Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer satellites of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). (Photographs courtesy of Missile Defense Agency)

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Pre-Launch:The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) prepare to launch six satellites to low-Earth orbit on Feb. 14. The satellites will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space utilizing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This includes two satellites for MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) and the final four SDA Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer satellites of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Photo Credit: Courtesy of SpaceX

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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Missile Defense Agency

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