TacSat-6

TacSat-6 is a U.S. military experimental technology and communication satellite. The Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) funded the launch that was performed by the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).

Launch of TacSat-6 on Dec. 5, 2013, aboard a Atlas V rocket.

TacSat-6

Mission type	Technology, Communications
Operator	Operationally Responsive Space Office, SMDC
COSPAR ID	2013-072M
SATCAT no.	39473
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	TacSat-6
Bus	3U CubeSat
Manufacturer	United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)
Launch mass	5 kg (11 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	6 December 2013, 07:14:30 UTC
Rocket	Atlas V 501 (AV-042)
Launch site	Vandenberg, SLC-3E
Contractor	United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude	462 km (287 mi)
Apogee altitude	889 km (552 mi)
Inclination	120.50°
Period	90.0 minutes
TacSat series ← TacSat-4

The spacecraft was launched on 6 December 2013, at 07:14:30 UTC, on an Atlas V 501 launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, SLC-3E.

Mission

TacSat-6 is equipped that can be used for any combination of communications. Part of its capability is rapid (within 24 hours) reallocation to different theaters worldwide, in support of unexpected operations. Command and control of TacSat-6 is performed by the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).

Design

All TacSat satellites are designed to demonstrate the ability to provide real-time data collected from space to combatant commanders in the field.^[2]

The spacecraft bus was built by United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).