San
Diego CA (SPX) —
General Atomics Electromagnetic
Systems (GA-EMS) reports that
its Orbital Test Bed (OTB)
satellite was successfully
launched on-board the SpaceX
Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape
Canaveral last week.
OTB was then successfully deployed into orbit after launch, and communication was established between the spacecraft and ground operations to begin satellite commissioning and operations.
"This first OTB launch marks a very exciting beginning for us and our multiple payload customers," stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS.
"We are extremely proud of our team, whose tremendous efforts over the past few years have culminated in [this] successful launch. We've successfully initiated the post-launch commissioning activities and the start of payload mission operations."
The launch, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force's Space Technology Program 2 (STP-2), is delivering 24 separate satellites to various orbits around Earth.
The multiple hosted payloads launched on GA-EMS' OTB spacecraft include:
- NASA's Space Technology
Mission Directorate's Deep
Space Atomic Clock, designed
and built at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, to
support deep space
navigation and exploration;
- a Modular Solar Array
developed for the U.S. Air
Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL);
- an Integrated
Miniaturized Electrostatic
Analyzer sensor payload
developed by cadets at the
U.S. Air Force Academy;
- the RadMon next
generation radiation effects
monitor;
- the FlexRX programmable
satellite receiver;
- and Celestis memorial remains.
"Establishing the proper orbit, communications and control is the first critical post launch step for our hosted payload customers," added Nick Bucci, vice president of Missile Defense and Space Systems. "We can then provide the information they need when they need it."
OTB's modularity and
versatility allows for the
simultaneous launch of multiple
demonstration payloads on a
single satellite. This
eliminates the need for
customers to bear the costly
burden of a dedicated platform
and launch.
