Tyche was launched on Friday from a Falcon 9 rocket owned by SpaceX, the company co-founded by billionaire X owner Elon Musk.<\/p>\n
The MoD said the launch is the first step in a future constellation of satellites that will seek to strengthen the UK’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.<\/p>\n
Maria Eagle, minister for defence procurement and industry, said: “Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
“Tyche also shows the UK’s commitment to support innovation in science and technology, stimulating growth across the sector and supporting highly skilled jobs in the UK.”<\/p>\n
Tyche, which is about the size of a washing machine, was designed and built in the UK through a \u00a322m contract awarded to Surrey Satellites Technology Limited (SSTL) and is the first to be fully owned by the MoD.<\/p>\n
The MoD said the war in Ukraine had shown that the use of space is “crucial to military operations”.<\/p>\n
SSTL received the first signals from Tyche a few hours after lift-off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, confirming the successful launch.<\/p>\n
The 150kg satellite will operate in low-Earth orbit over a five-year lifespan.<\/p>\n
Major General Paul Tedman, UK space commander, said: “This is a fabulous day for UK space.<\/p>\n
“The successful launch of Tyche has shown that UK Space Command, and its essential partners across defence and industry, can rapidly take a concept through to the delivery of a satellite capability on orbit.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This post appeared first on sky.com<\/div>\n
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