[Satellite TODAY 11-23-10] The U.S. Department of Defense’s STPSat-2 satellite has launched from the Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska on board a Minotaur 4 rocket, the U.S. Air Force announced Nov. 22.
    STPSat-2 was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies to be the first spacecraft for the Pentagon’s Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV) program managed by the Space Development and Test Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base. The STP-SIV architecture developed for STPSat-2 aims to support the Operationally Responsive Space strategy to ensure US space superiority, Ball Aerospace said.
    Ball Aerospace served as prime contractor on the project. The company designed and built the spacecraft and standard payload interface, as well as integrated three payloads, performed space vehicle environmental testing and provided launch and mission support.