In 2009. NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy supported two launches for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
The first was the Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Advanced Technology Risk Reduction spacecraft. or STSS-ATRR.
A Delta II rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off at 1:24 p.m. pacific time on May 5th. from NASA's Space
Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The spacecraft successfully separated from the Delta II about 58 minutes later.
The STSS ATRR mission is a space-based sensor component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. or BMDS. to
detect. track. and intercept ballistic missiles.