click map to enlargeIf all goes well, SpaceX will launch USSF-124 for the US Space Force on 14 February 2024, using a Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral launch pad 40. The launch window opens at 22:30 UTC and runs untill 3:00 UTC.USSF-124 launches two classified payloads, one built by Northrop-Grumman and the other by L3 Harris, for the Missile Defense Agency. The two satellites are part of their Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). In addition, the final four of SDA’s SDA Tranche 0 satellites are part of this launch too.The Navigational Warnings related to this launch (see map above) point to launch into a ~38.5 degree inclined Low Earth Orbit. The orbital altitude will likely be around 600 km.The upper stage of the Falcon 9 will deorbit after 1.5 revolutions, over the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, some 2 hours and 20 minutes after launch.The Navigational Warnings are plotted in the map in top of this post. These are the Navigational Warning texts:090947Z FEB 24NAVAREA IV 146/24(11,26).WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.FLORIDA.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 142230Z TO 150300Z FEB, ALTERNATE 2230Z TO 0230Z DAILY 15 THRU 20 FEB IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 28-38.28N 080-37.18W, 28-45.00N 080-18.00W, 28-43.00N 080-09.00W, 28-36.00N 080-07.00W, 28-28.00N 080-20.00W, 28-27.11N 080-31.61W. B. 29-58.00N 077-39.00W, 30-42.00N 076-26.00W, 31-00.00N 075-43.00W, 30-34.00N 075-28.00W, 30-21.00N 075-53.00W, 29-53.00N 077-35.00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 210330Z FEB 24.//081626Z FEB 24HYDROPAC 483/24(61).INDIAN OCEAN.FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS.DNC 02, DNC 03.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 0056Z TO 0519Z DAILY 15 THRU 21 FEB IN AREA BOUND BY 36-40.00S 078-41.00E, 34-50.00S 079-51.00E, 26-27.00S 060-32.00E, 28-17.00S 059-28.00E.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 210619Z FEB 24.
USSF-124, launching the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor
