U.S. Air Force taps Orbital ATK for satellite integration

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has selected Orbital ATK to perform integration services for the Space Test Program Satellite 6.

The multipurpose satellite, designated STPSat-6, will be used for scientific and military purposes. The satellite will demonstrate advanced communication capabilities, collect space weather data, and support nuclear detonation detection in Earth's atmosphere.

STPSat-6 is part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Space Test program, which is supported by the Air Force. The program facilitates spaceflights and payload deliveries to the International Space Station in addition to other launch services.

The satellite is the primary payload of the STP-3 mission scheduled for launch in June 2019. The hardware will be built on an Orbital ATK satellite bus and modified to fulfill mission requirements. The contract also tasks the company with testing the spacecraft, deliver operations procedures and support launch and on-orbit check-out.

"The capability to modify one of our current buses into a multipurpose spacecraft demonstrates Orbital ATK's proven history of doing whatever it takes to meet the needs of our customers," Orbital ATK National Space Systems vice president Chris Long said in a press release.

Once the work is complete, the satellite will carry nine payloads including the Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System, NASA's Laser Communication Relay Demonstration and seven experiments from the Department of Defense.