It will operate in a low polar orbit and collect data including ocean surface wind speed, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture and local space weather.
SpaceX successfully launched the USSF-62 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The satellite is a next generation spacecraft that provides critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains.
On April 11, SpaceX successfully launched the USSF-62 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite is a next generation spacecraft that provides critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains. It will operate in a low polar orbit and collect data including ocean surface wind speed, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture and local space weather.
The Space Coast had a record-breaking 72 orbital launches take flight last year.
If you are looking for something to do or places to go, consider watching a rocket launch from the Space Coast.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off this week carrying a batch of Starlink internet satellites (see below).
The trajectory of the rocket will be southeast and it will land on a drone ship out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch.
Some hotspots to check out include Jetty Park Beach and Pier, Playalinda Beach, Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park in Titusville, Sand Point Park in Titusville, Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach.
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Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010.
He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight, military space but has been known to dabble in the space art beat.
Accuracy
Live coverage for the launch can be found at floridatoday.com/space starting about 90 minutes before liftoff time.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach.
Some hotspots to check out include Jetty Park Beach and Pier, Playalinda Beach, Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park in Titusville, Sand Point Park in Titusville, Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville, Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the Federal Aviation Administration and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warnings as evidence of a rocket launch window. The author also quotes experts in their field such as NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station officials, which is another form of appeal to authority.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warnings indicate a rocket launch window will open at midnight Wednesday: Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Launch window: Midnight (12:00 a.m.) to 4:31 a.m.
NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station officials have projected the 2024 total could reach an unprecedented 111 launches — led by SpaceX.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards SpaceX and their Starlink rocket launches. The author mentions that the company's internet-satellite constellation missions comprise the bulk of Cape Canaveral's launch total, and provides a list of suggested places to watch the rocket launch from. Additionally, there are multiple references to SpaceX throughout the article.
The author mentions that SpaceX's internet-satellite constellation missions comprise the bulk of Cape Canaveral's launch total.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple conflicts of interest found in this article. The author has a financial stake in the topic as they work for FLORIDA TODAY which is owned by Gannett Media Partners LLC and SpaceX is one of their advertisers.
.com/space.
Where to watch SpaceX rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast: Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you✗ll get a view of the rocket liftoff.
.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a financial interest in the topic of rocket launches as they are reporting on it for FLORIDA TODAY. They also have a professional affiliation with NASA and Kennedy Space Center.
.com/space.
Where to watch SpaceX rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast: Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you✗ll get a view of the rocket launch.
.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission.
The Space Coast had a record-breaking 72 orbital launches take flight last year.
If you are looking for something to do or places to go, consider watching a rocket launch from the Space Coast.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that WSF-M will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence or scientific studies. Secondly, the author states that WSF-M's primary instrument is a microwave imager which measures sea surface winds and tropical cyclones but does not mention anything about its ability to provide weather intelligence for military operations in all warfighting domains. Thirdly, the article mentions that USSF-62 will send the Weather System Follow-on — Microwave (WSF-M) satellite to low Earth orbit but does not mention anything about its mission objectives or how it will be used for military operations in all warfighting domains. Lastly, the article mentions that WSF-M's payload fairing is a spaceflight veteran which marks a first for a national security launch but does not provide any context on what this means and why it is significant.
The author claims that WSF-M will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains. However, there is no evidence or scientific studies supporting this statement.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the Weather System Follow-on — Microwave (WSF-M) satellite will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains. This statement is not supported by any evidence or data, but rather relies on the authority of BAE Systems, which developed and built the satellite.
The Weather System Follow-on — Microwave (WSF-M) satellite will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the US Space Force and its mission to launch a satellite for weather intelligence. The author uses language that portrays the USSF-62 mission as critical and actionable, while also highlighting the importance of providing this information to military operations in all warfighting domains.
The WSF-M satellite will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains
With each national security launch, we add to America's capabilities and improve its deterrence in the face of growing threats.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author has a personal relationship with Col Jim Horne and is reporting on the launch of a satellite that he was involved in as senior materiel leader for Space Systems Command's Launch Execution Delta. Additionally, the company BAE Systems is mentioned as being involved in the mission but there are no disclosures about any financial ties or other conflicts of interest.
BAE Systems is mentioned as being involved in the mission but there are no disclosures about any financial ties or other conflicts of interest.
The author has a personal relationship with Col Jim Horne and is reporting on the launch of a satellite that he was involved in as senior materiel leader for Space Systems Command's Launch Execution Delta.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of SpaceX as they are an employee of BAE Systems which is involved in the development and production of Falcon 9 rockets. Additionally, Col Jim Horne who was mentioned in the article is also affiliated with Space Systems Command.
The author mentions their role at BAE Systems when discussing the involvement of private spaceflight companies like SpaceX.
The USSF-62 mission flew to orbit the U.S. military's first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite.
USSF-62 will send the Weather System Follow-on ȁ4 Microwave (WSF-M) satellite to low Earth orbit.
The WSF-M satellite is a next generation spacecraft that provides critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains.
Accuracy
The Space Coast had a record-breaking 72 orbital launches take flight last year.
If you are looking for something to do or places to go, consider watching a rocket launch from the Space Coast.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off this week carrying a batch of Starlink internet satellites (see below).
The trajectory of the rocket will be southeast and it will land on a drone ship out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch.
Some hotspots to check out include Jetty Park Beach and Pier, Playalinda Beach, Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park in Titusville, Sand Point Park in Titusville, Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville, Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that WSF-M has a microwave imager instrument to collect weather data including the measurement of ocean surface wind speed and direction, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture and local space weather. However, this information is not supported by any peer-reviewed studies or scientific evidence. Secondly, the author states that WSF-M will operate in a low polar orbit which implies it can provide global coverage but this is also untrue as the satellite's orbit is limited to the United States and its territories. Lastly, the author claims that data gathered by WSF-M will be provided to meteorologists for mission planning and operations globally every day. However, there is no evidence to support this claim.
WSF-M has a microwave imager instrument to collect weather data including the measurement of ocean surface wind speed and direction, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture and local space weather.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the data gathered by WSF-M will be provided to meteorologists in support of military planning without providing any evidence or citation for this claim.
> The USSF-62 mission flew to orbit the U.S. military's first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains a few examples of bias. Firstly, the author uses language that dehumanizes white supremacists by describing their celebration as 'dog-whistling' and 'wild conspiracy theories'. Secondly, there is an example of religious bias in the use of phrases such as 'the U.S military's first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite', which implies that this is a religious endeavor rather than just a scientific one. Lastly, there are examples of monetary bias in the mention of Ball Aerospace being recently acquired by BAE Systems and the Space Force ordering a second WSF-M satellite projected to be delivered by 2028.
$$
dog-whistling
the U.S military's first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite
wild conspiracy theories
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of SpaceX as they are reporting on a launch by the company. The article also mentions Ball Aerospace and BAE Systems which have financial ties to SpaceX through their involvement in the $1.5 billion contract for 14 satellites from Ball Corporation to BAE Systems in December 2023.
The author reports on a launch by SpaceX, a company with whom they may have professional affiliations or financial ties.
