The United States Space Force is preparing to launch its first satellite, marking a milestone for the newest branch of the U.S. military. Established under President Donald Trump, the Space Force has been focused on organization, budgeting, and other foundational work.
The Advanced Extremely High Frequency-6 (AEHF-6) satellite aims to improve secure global communications for military operations on land, sea, and in the air. Lockheed Martin, the satellite’s manufacturer, states that AEHF-6 will “deliver global, survivable, protected communications for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea, and air platforms.”
According to Space.com, the satellite will operate approximately 22,000 miles above Earth and will also support allied nations, including Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
The launch will take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and can be watched via live stream starting today, March 26th, 2020, at 2:37 PM ET.
Recently, the Space Force unveiled a new logo reminiscent of designs from “Star Trek.” The branch has also inspired popular culture, including a Netflix comedy series starring Steve Carell.
See below for the live broadcast.
