Coast Guard Launches Polar Communication Satellites
12/3/2018
By Stew Magnuson
Two Coast Guard demonstration satellites were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on Dec. 3 with an eye toward building up a fleet of spacecraft dedicated to the sea service’s missions.
The launch is part of the Polar Scout project to evaluate the effectiveness of space-based sensors in support of Arctic search and rescue missions. Knowledge gained from this demonstration will be used to inform satellite technology recommendations for many potential applications within the Coast Guard and across the Department of Homeland Security, a joint Coast Guard and DHS Science and Technology Directorate statement said.
“The Polar Scout project is providing valuable insight on the process, cost and feasibility of acquiring and using organic satellites,†the statement said.
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2018/12/3/coast-guard-launches-polar-communication-satellites