[11-12-07 – Satellite Today] The final Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite was placed into orbit Nov. 10 by a Boeing Delta 4 launch vehicle, satellite manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced.

DSP 23, built for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile System Center, will provide warnings of tactical and strategic missile launches, nuclear detonations and other technical intelligence.

The first DSP spacecraft was launched in 1970 and previous satellites have operated four times beyond their specified design lives on average. DSP 23 is expected to serve well into the next decade, Northrop Grumman said.