BALL - Ball Aerospace Ships Space Systems Command Operational Weather Satellite for Launch | Benzinga
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace successfully shipped the Weather System Follow-on – Microwave (WSF-M) satellite to Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California last week. The satellite is the first of two that Ball Aerospace will deliver for the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command next-generation operational environmental satellite system.
The satellite is scheduled to launch in late March aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Once in orbit, WSF-M will dramatically improve space-based environmental monitoring capabilities for the Department of Defense, utilizing a Ball-built Microwave Imager (MWI) to capture real-time data on sea ice and surface winds, tropical cyclone intensity, snow depth, soil moisture and more.
"The WSF-M satellite will provide a new level of environmental intelligence for our nation's military across all domains," said Thai Sheridan, vice president & general manager, Military Space, Ball Aerospace. "We're proud of our role in this critical mission to support the safety of our warfighters and the success of their crucial operations around the world."
In addition to the MWI, Ball Aerospace was responsible for designing, building and integrating the spacecraft bus and ground data processing software. The satellite also features a government-built Energetic Charged Particle (ECP) sensor that will provide space weather measurements.
In 2022, Ball Aerospace was awarded a follow-on contract to build and deliver a second WSF-M satellite, which will be completed in 2026.
Visit the Ball Aerospace blog to view additional photos and video of the shipping process.
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