An Air Force Tactical Satellite (TacSat-2) is being readied for liftoff on a Minotaur rocket, to be boosted from NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.

The December launch of TacSat-2 serves as the predecessor for rapid satellite production, launch and operation. Similar military spacecraft have taken a decade or longer to move from sketch to sendoff.

The micro satellite effort is an inexpensive alternative to most current defense-related space systems, which cost about 90 percent more.

TacSat work is geared to the U.S. Air Force responsive space initiative – to design, construct, test and deliver a mission-ready satellite within a 15-month time frame. Plus, this type of satellite would be on ship and shoot status within a week of a tasking order.

The TacSat-2 features 11 onboard experiments to be run during a six month to year-long mission. One of those investigations is use of a 20-inch optical telescope to showcase its ability to take low-cost, high-quality imagery.

TacSat development is being carried out by the U.S. Air Force Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

-- Leonard David

Credit: U.S. Air Force.