1/9/2012 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- AFRL's Tactical Satellite-3 (TacSat-3) celebrates its two-year anniversary on-orbit. The spacecraft was originally designed for six months of operation with a one-year goal. It successfully transitioned from experimental to operational status last year, outliving its design life and surpassing original mission requirements.
Launched in May 2009, TacSat-3's mission is to demonstrate capability to conduct hyperspectral imaging that is responsive to warfighter needs. Since then, the spacecraft has delivered over 2,100 images and demonstrated the ability to transmit processed data to a ground station within ten minutes.
TacSat-3 was transitioned to US Space Command in June 2010.
