Gen. John Hyten, commander of Air Force Space Command, told reporters that all attempts to reconnect to and gain control of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 19 had failed and the military weather satellite is “about dead.”
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Hyten told reporters he expects to make a final determination on the satellite as soon this week.
He briefed lawmakers on Mar. 5 that he “would prefer to launch DMSP-20” to fill the gap. Current plan calls for the Air Force to dispose of DMSP-20 from storage by end of this year.