File photo of the liftoff of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5-551 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Credit: United Launch Alliance
The sixth and final satellite in the U.S. militarys network of ultra-secure, nuclear-hardened AEHF communications relay stations has arrived in Florida for final preparations for liftoff in March on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, the first of nearly 20 U.S. Space Force missions planned for launch in the first year of operations for the new military service.
A military C-5 transport plane flew the AEHF 6 satellite Saturday from Moffett Field, California near the crafts Lockheed Martin factory in Sunnyvale to the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ground crews moved the satellite safely stored inside a climate-controlled shipping container to the nearby Astrotech payload processing facility for final pre-launch testing, inspections and fueling.
The launch of the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite is scheduled for mid-March from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard the most powerful version of ULAs Atlas 5 rocket, known as the 551 configuration, with five strap-on solid rocket boosters and a 5.4-meter (17.7-foot-diameter) payload fairing.
The March launch of the AEHF 6 satellite is next in line for ULA after the scheduled Feb. 5 liftoff of an Atlas 5 rocket with the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, a joint U.S.- European science probe to study the physics of the sun.
The AEHF 6 satellite will be the first major U.S. Space Force payload to launch after the creation of the new military branch in December. It joins five previous AEHF satellites launched on Atlas 5 rockets since 2010, continuing and expanding secure communications services for U.S. military commanders and the president provided by the militarys earlier generation of Milstar spacecraft.
The Space Force is comprised of military units that previously operated under the umbrella of the now-defunct U.S. Air Force Space Command, including space wings that manage launch ranges at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The new Space Force military branch remains part of the Department of the Air Force, and also includes the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, which oversees launch and spacecraft procurement and development programs, such as AEHF, GPS and SBIRS satellites for communications, navigation and early warning missions.
Its an exciting time to be part of SMCs launch enterprise, a Space and Missile Systems Center spokesperson said. We expect eight to 10 National Security Space Launch missions and nine small launch missions in 2020.
The National Security Space Launch missions include flights with operational military and intelligence-gathering satellites on ULAs Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets, and SpaceXs Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launcher family. The small launch missions planned for liftoff this year will primarily loft experimental, scientific and technology demonstration payloads on light-class launch vehicles.
Heres a list of the publicly-disclosed Space Force missions scheduled for launch in 2020:
The first of the Space Forces small launch missions scheduled for flight this year will take off on a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. The Minotaur 4, derived from the militarys decommissioned Peacekeeper ballistic missile, will fire into orbit with a top secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which owns the U.S. governments spy satellites.
The NROL-129 mission on the Minotaur 4 rocket is scheduled for launch from Virginia in March, according to a Space Force spokesperson.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch up to three GPS navigation satellites for the Space Force this year, all from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The first of the three GPS satellites is scheduled for liftoff in April, followed by another GPS mission in the August timeframe. If those two launches occur as scheduled, the Space Force says another GPS satellite could be ready for liftoff in late 2020.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the newest generation of GPS satellites broadcast positioning and timing signals to U.S. military troops, airplanes and naval ships. The GPS network is also used worldwide by civilians for road navigation, commercial air travel, search-and-rescue, and banking transactions.
The first two GPS 3-series satellites launched in December 2018 and August 2019 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 and ULA Delta 4 rockets.
The sixth flight of the Space Forces X-37B space plane is scheduled for launch in May on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The reusable Boeing-built space plane resembles a miniature space shuttle, taking off off on top of a conventional rocket and returning to a runway landing at the end of each mission.
The May launch of the next X-37B mission is officially designated as the AFSPC-7 mission. An Atlas 5-501 rocket with a five-meter payload shroud and no solid rocket boosters will deliver one of the two X-37B space planes in the Space Forces inventory to an orbit several hundred miles above Earth for a top secret mission expected to last months or years.
The largest rocket in ULAs fleet the Delta 4-Heavy is scheduled for launch in June from pad 37 at Cape Canaveral with a classified NRO spy satellite. The purpose of the spacecraft planned for liftoff on the Delta 4-Heavys NROL-44 mission has not been disclosed, but previous large NRO spy satellites launched on Delta 4-Heavys from Cape Canaveral have been designed to intercept radio and electronic signals for U.S. government intelligence analysts.
The Air Force last year announced new contracts procured through the militarys Rapid Agile Launch Initiative, or RALI, program aimed at securing relatively low-cost launch services with new commercial small satellite launchers.
At least two of the RALI missions are scheduled for launch in 2020.
The STP-27RM mission will carry the Air Force Research Laboratorys Monolith technology demonstration microsatellite into orbit on top of a Rocket Lab Electron booster. The mission is planned for liftoff in the spring timeframe, and will mark the first Rocket Lab launch from the companys new launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Virginias Eastern Shore.
A rideshare launch with multiple small satellites is planned for the summer on Virgin Orbits LauncherOne booster, which is scheduled for an inaugural test flight in the coming months. The air-launched rocket will fire into orbit from a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet after taking off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
Two additional orbital RALI missions are also scheduled this year, but their launch vehicles and launch schedules have not been announced. A rideshare launch with multiple experimental small satellites for the militarys Space Test Program is also planned for liftoff this year on an unidentified rocket.
The Space Forces small launch program also plans to perform a Minotaur 1 rocket launch in late 2020 from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Minotaur 1 mission for the National Reconnaissance is designated NROL-111, and no information has been disclosed about its payload.
There are two suborbital missions on the Space Forces small launch manifest this year.
Several more Space Force missions are being readied for launches in the second half of 2020.
ULA will launch an Atlas 5 rocket in the September timeframe with a classified payload for the NRO. The launch from Cape Canaveral, codenamed NROL-101, is scheduled after the departure of NASAs Mars 2020 rover mission on an Atlas 5 flight in July.
Another Space Force mission is also on ULAs Atlas 5 manifest in late 2020, according to a military spokesperson. The AFSPC-8 mission from Cape Canaveral will carry the fifth and sixth satellites for the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP, which is designed to help the military track and observe objects in geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth.
The Space Forces launches on Atlas 5 rockets this year will be scheduled among several other critical Atlas 5 missions on ULAs 2020 manifest. Besides the Solar Orbiter and Mars 2020 launches for NASA, ULA is on contract with Boeing to launch the first piloted flight of the companys CST-100 Starliner commercial crew capsule with three astronauts heading for the International Space Station.
A launch date for the Starliners first crewed mission has not been announced.
Just one Space Force launch is planned this year from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the usual launch site for military surveillance satellites heading into polar orbit.
ULA is planning to launch a Delta 4-Heavy rocket some time between October and the end of the year from Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg with the National Reconnaissance Offices NROL-82 mission.
The fourth flight of SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket the most powerful launcher in the world currently in operation is also scheduled before the end of 2020 with the Space Forces AFSPC-44 mission. Little is known about the purpose of the payloads on the AFSPC-44 launch, but officials have indicated the mission will loft at least two satellites into a high-altitude geosynchronous orbit.
The Falcon Heavy will lift off from pad 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the only SpaceX launch site configured to launch the heavy-lifter.
SpaceX is building three new boosters for the triple-body Falcon Heavy rockets AFSPC-44 mission.
Email the author.
Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.
See the article here:
AEHF satellite arrives in Florida for first of nearly 20 Space Force launches this year - Spaceflight Now
- Space Shuttle STS-118 Endeavour Space Station Assembly ISS-13A.1 S5 Truss 2007 NASA - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Hurricane Isaac Spied By International Space Station | Video - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Raw Video: Space Station View of Isaac - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Station Crew Member Discusses Life in Space with Japanese Media (English Translated Version) - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Station Crew Discusses Life in Space With Social Media Followers - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Earth Illuminated: ISS Time-lapse Photography - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- LIVE From The International Space Station 1080i Full HD - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- ISS Progress 47 Re-docks to Space Station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- FreeOK2 - Seth Andrews "Scrabble on the Space Station" - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Raw Video: International Space Station at Night - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Cargo Ship Undocks From Space Station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Mission Highlights: SpaceX's Dragon Makes History - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Soyuz Launches to Space Station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- [ISS] Manned Soyuz TMA-03M Departs Space Station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- China's space station dream one step closer - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Space Station Live! Tour - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- SpaceX Dragon Capsule Hatch Opening from International Space Station (ISS) HD 5/26/2012 - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Space Station Crew Welcomes World's First Commercial Cargo Craft - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- SpaceX capsule docks with space station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- [SpaceX] Dragon Berthed to Space Station - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- How a toothbrush helped fix the space station [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- MacGyver in space? Astronauts fix space station with toothbrush. (+video) [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- MacGyver in space? Astronauts fix space station with toothbrush. [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- MacGuyver in space? Astronauts fix space station with toothbrush. [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- Space station's toothbrush fix; astronaut breaks spacewalk record [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- Astronauts repair space station with help of toothbrush [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2012]
- Space Station fixed with $3 toothbrush [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2012]
- Global student space experiments transformed [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2012]
- Student Biology Investigations Stream Live On YouTube Space Lab [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2012]
- Japanese cargo ship leaves space station [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2012]
- YouTube Space Lab: Bill Nye, contest winners, share results as streamed from space [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- LIVE from the Space Station: Gotta-See Video [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- Making music in outer space [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2012]
- Space Station Spin-Off Could Protect Mars-Bound Astronauts From Radiation [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2012]
- Female astronaut takes command of space station [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2012]
- 3 space station astronauts return to Earth tonight [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2012]
- Soyuz brings three station fliers home to pinpoint landing [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- International Space Station Astronauts Land Safely in Kazakhstan [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- Space Station 'nauts touch down on Kazakh steppe [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- International Space Station: Formal handover of power - Video [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams completes first-ever space triathalon [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2012]
- Astronauts Return From Space Station, As An American Takes Command [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2012]
- Photos: Space Station's Expedition 33 Mission [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2012]
- New, Compact Body Scanner Ready for Space Station [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2012]
- SpaceX launch to space station is Oct. 7 [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- NASA: Dragon prepared for space flight [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- SpaceX, NASA target Oct. 7 launch for resupply mission to International Space Station [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield launch to space station pushed back two weeks [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- Computer glitch delays space station undocking [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2012]
- Space station at risk of debris hit [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2012]
- Orbital debris sets off space station alert [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2012]
- Space station on alert [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- NASA offers opportunity to use communications testbed on space station [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- Back-to-back near-misses on space station [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- Huge cargo ship undocks from space station [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- Russians face up to their space crisis [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- Private SpaceX Rocket Test-Fires Engines for Space Station Trip [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- NASA Plan to Build Space Station Beyond the Moon Criticized [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- New Private Rocket Arrives at Virginia Launch Pad for Tests [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- Singer Sarah Brightman Outbids NASA for Space Tourist's Seat [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Space station in no need to move to avoid debris [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- NASA considering deep-space station on moon [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- NASA Mulls Deep-Space Station on Moon's Far Side [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Space Station to Move to Avoid Debris [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- 1st Year-Long Space Station Mission May Launch in 2015: Reports [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Space Tourist Outbids NASA for Flight [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- International Space Station safe from orbiting space debris [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- SpaceX encore: 2nd private space station shipment [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- How 'The Big Bang Theory' Sent Howard Wolowitz to Space [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- Space Station-Bound SpaceX Dragon Capsule Gets Mission Patch [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- SpaceX plans historic flight to International Space Station Sunday [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- How 'Big Bang's' Howard flew to space [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- Canada unveils two new space 'Canadarms' [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- How SpaceX Will Keep the Space Station in Business [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- Canada Unveils Next-Generation Robotic Arms for Spaceships [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- Space station-bound SpaceX rocket to launch Sunday [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2012]
- SpaceX set for its first cargo run to space station [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2012]
- One Year In Space: US-Russian Crew Launching Audacious Spaceflight in 2015 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2012]
- SpaceX ready to resupply space station [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2012]
- Private space station delivery to launch Sunday [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2012]