USSF-8 will launch two identical Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6 directly to a near-geosynchronous orbit approximately 36,000 km above the equator. Data from the GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, further enabling space flight safety including satellite collision avoidance. Unique to this mission is the first and only planned flight of the Atlas V 511 configuration.
Geosynchronous OrbitMission to a 500 km circular orbit inclined at 45 degrees carrying eight R&D satellites from US government agencies with communications and navigation experiments as well as two Earth-observation nanosatellites from Polish company SatRevolution.
Low Earth OrbitThree unknown research payloads are reported to have been sent into space, according to the Iranian Ministry of Defense. However, no new objects are being tracked in the orbit after this launch attempt so it is considered a failure despite Iran's reports of success.
Low Earth Orbit