Two Guardians reveal a full-scale Vela satellite model, presented by representatives from Northrop Grumman to the Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, May 4, 2021. Originated in 1960, Vela was the first space-based system used for nuclear surveillance. Today, the mission of monitoring nuclear detonations continues with payloads hosted on GPS satellites.

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Size: 1848px × 1352px
Photo credit: © Operation 2021 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: .., air, force, laafb, satellite, smc, ussf, vela