DULLES, Va., May 20 (UPI) -- Orbital Sciences Corp. announced the successful deployment of a new U.S. Air Force tactical satellite designed to support real-time data collection from space.
U.S. company Orbital launched the Air Force's Tactical Satellite-3, or TacSat-3, satellite from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport facility Tuesday following several delayed flight attempts.
The TacSat-3 satellite was launched using Orbital's Minotaur I rocket system. Officials say the satellite is now successfully orbiting approximately 285 miles above the Earth's surface.
"We are very pleased with the results of this … flight of the Minotaur I rocket, and are proud to be able to support the Air Force's important work in the area of operationally responsive space systems," Ron Grabe, Orbital executive vice president and general manager of its Launch Systems Group, said in a statement.
