United Launch Alliance (ULA) is already prepping for the upcoming launch of Atlas V. It just rolled the rocket back on the launch pad again.
ULA Rolled Atlas V Rocket to Launch Pad Again
United Launch Alliance (ULA) rolled the Atlas V with classified payloads on top for "Silent Barker" to the Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Thursday (Sept. 7).
The launch window for the rocket is set for Saturday, Sept. 9, at 8:51 a.m. GMT: 12:51 EDT. It was the second rollout in support of Silent Barker. The Atlas V had already traveled to the pad on Aug. 25 in preparation for an intended liftoff on Aug. 29.
However, because of the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia, that endeavor was abandoned. On Aug. 28, ULA wheeled the Atlas V back to its vertical integration facility at Cape Canaveral to shield the rocket and its classified cargo from the storm.
Silent Barker will launch several satellites into orbit to monitor activity in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), which is located roughly 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above Earth.
The time it takes for a satellite to orbit Earth at that height is the same as when it takes for our planet to complete one spin. As a result, they "hover" over the same area of the planet, making GEO a popular location for communications and Earth-observing satellites.
The number of satellites Silent Barker will launch or their precise functions are unknown. According to Space Force officials, one of its goals is to "deter aggression," though.
Space Force Lt. General Michael Guetlein, commander of Space Systems Command, said in a teleconference with reporters on Aug. 28 that they want their competitors to know they have eyes in GEO and can see what's happening there.
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What Is Silent Barker?
Silent Barker will serve as a "watchdog" in geosynchronous orbit, keeping an eye on any satellites that relocate to gain a better view at American spacecraft or possibly to launch counter-space assaults, according to NRO director Chris Scolese.
He noted how communication satellites move from one point to another to provide better coverage for other areas. They want to see that to know what is happening in that area. Scolese added that they also want to know if something is happening that shouldn't be happening, is unexpected, or could pose a threat to a high-value asset that belongs to them or one of their partners.
Silent Barker's precise powers are still unclear. But in 2021, L3 Harris, a defense contractor, received a contract modification from Air Force Space and Missile Systems because the total cost of the Silent Barker contract exceeded $283 million. The Government Accountability Office formerly projected the program's cost to be $994 million, with an anticipated full operating capability set for 2026.
The National Space Defense Center in Colorado Springs will analyze Silent Barker's data while the NR controls the satellite.
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