NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

USSF-178 (WSF-M 2 & BLAZE-2)

Launch Time
NET 2027

Rocket

Falcon 9 Block 5
Image Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX
Status: Active
Price: $69.75 million
Liftoff Thrust: 7,607 kN
Payload to LEO: 22,800 kg
Payload to GTO: 8,300 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 70.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.0 m

Mission Details

WSF-M 2

WSF-M (Weather System Follow-on - Microwave) is the next-generation operational environmental satellite system for the Department of Defense (DoD), to replace the microwave wavelength weather forecasting capabilities of the DMSP satellites.

Ball Aerospace has been selected in late November 2017 to be the prime contractor for 2 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellites with a passive microwave imaging radiometer instrument and hosted Government furnished energetic charged particle (ECP) sensor space weather payload developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The radiometer leverages the Ball-built Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument.

This mission will improve weather forecasting over maritime regions by taking global measurements of the atmosphere and ocean surface.

Manufacturer: Ball Aerospace
Operator: United States Space Force
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,200.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

BLAZE-2

BLAZE-2 is a launch opportunity for operational, research, development, and prototype small satellites from across the DoD. Details TBD.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Location

SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA