Air Force plans to launch Space Based Surveillance Satellite from California this weekend

Space surveillance satellite to launch Saturday

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Surveillance Satellite is scheduled to launch Saturday.

The Boeing Co. says the satellite will be carried into orbit by a Minotaur 4 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central California coast.

The satellite is designed to detect threats to space assets posed by other objects in orbit. It was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo. Boeing is the overall program manager.

Minotaur launch vehicles have been developed by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., using rocket motors from decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles.