U.S. Military to Launch Secret Spy Satellite Demo Saturday

An Orbital Sciences Minotaur 1 rocket blasts off with the Air Force's TacSat-3 satellite onboard.

04 February 2011 BY Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now

The U.S. military plans to launch a Minotaur rocket Saturday with a secret technology research mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, the government agency that oversees the country's spy satellites. The solid-fueled Orbital Sciences Corp. Minotaur 1 launcher is scheduled to lift off some time Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The launch window is a secret for now, but the Air Force plans to announce a time for the blastoff Thursday evening. The release of the launch time will come after the Launch Readiness Review adjourns Thursday to give approval for final flight preparations, according to an Air Force spokesperson.