The COSMIC constellation of six satellites was launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 6:40 p.m. PDT (9:40 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 14, 2006. Ground stations have received signals from all six satellites.
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Systems Launch Vehicle
FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC is using a single Minotaur vehicle to launch all 6 spacecraft to an interim orbit of approximately 500 Km.
Over the next year after launch, the satellites will be moved into 6 separate planes,
and boosted to their final orbits of 800 Km with an inclination of 71 degrees.
The following link provides more detailed information on Minotaur:
http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/
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