This afternoon, the United Launch Alliance had another successful launch of the Atlas V vehicle, this time carrying the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geo-1 satellite into orbit. The first of a new breed of missile launch detection birds, this platform will provide near-constant monitoring capabilities, as opposed to q 10 seconds capability of earlier models.
SBIRS Geo-1 Launch aboard Atlas V
This will give the USAF Space Command one more bird to control and those of us from SeeSat-L one more to track.
SBIRS Geo-1 Mission Patch