Posted: Sat, Apr 8, 2023, 9:32 AM ET (1332 GMT)
SpaceX launched the first 10 satellites for the Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA) Sunday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:29 am EDT (1429 GMT) carrying first 10 of 28 data-transport and missile-tracking satellites that make up SDA's Tranche 0. The rocket placed the satellites into two orbital planes at altitudes of 1,000 kilometers. The launch was postponed from Thursday after a last-second abort in the countdown that SpaceX says was triggered by one of the first-stage engines. The remaining 18 Tranche 0 satellites are projected to launch in June.

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