Launch of DMSP F19 Weather Satellite

DMSP F19 Mission patch.

April 3, 2014

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) used an Atlas V rocket to deploy the DMSP-5D3 F-19 satellite for the US Air Force. Liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base was on schedule at 07:46 local time (14:46 UTC) on Thursday. This first attempt launch played into evaluations for which rocket – which has now been confirmed as the Atlas V with NROL-67 – will launch first from Cape Canaveral next week.

Launch of DMSP F19 Weather Satellite on Atlas V 401 Rocket 

 

The 44th launch of an  Atlas placed the 19th Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), block 5D3, weather satellite Flight 19 into orbit for the United States Air Force. The launch of this Atlas clears the flight team to proceed with another Atlas launch on the East coast in Cape Canaveral.

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), which was named the Defense Satellite Application Program (DSAP) until December 1973, began in the early 1960s.

DMSP satellite

Originally operated by the National Reconnaissance Office, the satellites’ original purpose was to support early reconnaissance satellites by forecasting which areas of Soviet and Chinese territory would be covered in cloud, and which areas would be visible to the satellites. Over time the program has evolved to fulfil other roles, including providing real-time tactical weather data to troops.

For more information about United Launch Alliance (ULA), visit: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/default.shtml

Image, Video, Text, Credits: ULA / NASASpaceflight.com / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.

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