TacSat-3 ended its operational life in March after a phenomenal mission during which the experimental satellite was retasked multiple times to perform crucial operations. "This satellite did some amazing things during its relatively short life," said Lt. Col. Mike Manor, commander of the 1 st Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo. The 880-pound experimental spacecraft was briefly made an operational reconnaissance asset, supporting combat operations. After its on-orbit experiments were complete, Air Force Space Command pressed the satellite into service in June 2010 to support real-world combat and humanitarian operations worldwide. "We were able to squeeze two additional years of mission operations out of it," explained Manor.
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