Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 14, 2010  (Read 92164 times)

Offline jacqmans

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Lockheed Martin Completes Work on First U.S. Air Force Advanced EHF Satellite

14-Apr-2010, 10:46 AM

New-Generation Military Communications Satellite Ready For Delivery To Support Mid-2010 Launch

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 14, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has completed all factory testing of the first satellite in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program and the spacecraft is ready for delivery to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for a mid-2010 liftoff aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

The AEHF system is the successor to the five-satellite Milstar constellation and will provide significantly improved global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving U.S. national security.

"This sophisticated satellite was designed, built and tested by a joint government/industry team dedicated to providing secure, real-time connectivity to deployed forces around the globe," said Col. Michael Sarchet, commander of the Protected Satellite Communications Group at the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. "We look forward to achieving mission success as we prepare to launch this critical national asset in a few months."

A single AEHF satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on-orbit. Individual user data rates can be up to five times higher than Milstar's highest speed. The faster data rates will permit transmission of tactical military communications, such as high-quality real-time video and quick access to battlefield maps and targeting data.

"This achievement is direct testimony to the team's commitment to operational excellence and mission success," said Mike Davis, Lockheed Martin's AEHF vice president. "We are very proud of our role in providing critical protected communications systems for the nation and have great confidence in the unprecedented new capabilities this vitally important satellite will provide to the warfighter."

The second AEHF spacecraft (SV-2) is in the midst of its final performance test known as Final Integrated System Test which will verify all spacecraft interfaces, demonstrate full functionality and evaluate satellite performance. The third AEHF satellite, SV-3, is gearing up for acoustic testing, one of several critical environmental tests that validate the overall satellite design, quality of workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations. SV-2 and SV-3 are on track for launch readiness in 2011.

The AEHF team is led by the U.S. Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor and system manager, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider.

"Launching the first AEHF satellite will mark yet another revolution in assured military satellite communications by a government and industry team that has delivered unmatched capabilities for secure transmission of the highest priority military information," according to Stuart Linsky, vice president of Satellite Communications for Northrop Grumman Corporation's Aerospace Systems sector.

Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide three AEHF satellites and the Mission Control Segment. The program has begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for a fourth AEHF satellite.
« Last Edit: 08/13/2010 10:48 pm by Chris Bergin »
Jacques :-)

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #1 on: 04/15/2010 12:36 pm »
Just out of interest, is the -531 the most powerful Atlas-V variant flown to date? I don't recall ever seeing any mention of flights using DEC and/or four or five SRMs on the quite-comprehensive Wiki page.
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Offline Jim

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #2 on: 04/15/2010 12:39 pm »
Just out of interest, is the -531 the most powerful Atlas-V variant flown to date? I don't recall ever seeing any mention of flights using DEC and/or four or five SRMs on the quite-comprehensive Wiki page.
No DEC's

Pluto New Horizon was a 551.
A 431 has more payload capability than a 531.

Juno will be a 551 and MSL a 541

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #3 on: 05/25/2010 08:27 am »
Lockheed Martin Delivers First U.S. Air Force Advanced EHF Satellite

24-May-2010 4:46 PM


New-Generation Protected Military Communications Satellite Scheduled to Launch July 2010

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 24, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has delivered the first satellite in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for a July 30 liftoff aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. The AEHF system will provide the U.S. military and national leaders with global, protected, high capacity and secure communications.

"Shipment of the first AEHF satellite is testimony to a strong government and industry partnership focused on achieving total mission success on this vitally important program," said Col. Michael Sarchet, commander of the Protected Satellite Communications Group at the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. "AEHF will play an integral role in our national security space architecture, and we look forward to providing this new capability to the warfighter."

The AEHF system is the successor to the five-satellite Milstar constellation and will provide significantly improved global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving U.S. national security. The governments of Canada, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom participate in the AEHF program as international partners and will have access to the communications capability of AEHF.

A single AEHF satellite will provide greater total capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on-orbit. Individual user data rates can be up to five times higher than Milstar's highest speed. The faster data rates will permit transmission of tactical military communications, such as high-quality real-time video and quick access to battlefield maps and targeting data.

"Lockheed Martin is extremely proud of this significant program milestone," said Mike Davis, Lockheed Martin's AEHF vice president. "This satellite will provide substantially improved protected communications capabilities for the warfighter, and we look forward to achieving mission success for our customer."

The second AEHF spacecraft (SV-2) has completed Final Integrated System Test which verified all spacecraft interfaces, demonstrated full functionality and evaluated satellite performance and is now preparing for Intersegment testing to ensure the spacecraft is ready for flight. The third AEHF satellite, SV-3, has completed acoustic testing, one of several critical environmental tests that validate the overall satellite design, quality of workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations. SV-2 and SV-3 are on track for launch readiness in 2011.

The AEHF team is led by the U.S. Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor and system manager, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider.

"Assured communications for our military services is absolutely essential wherever they may be deployed," said Stuart Linsky, vice president, Satellite Communications, for Northrop Grumman. "Capabilities provided by AEHF will give more warfighters access to the protected communications they need."

Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide three AEHF satellites and the Mission Control Segment. The program has begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for a fourth AEHF satellite.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

Media Contacts: Lauren Wonder, 408-756-4225; e-mail, [email protected]

NOTE TO EDITORS: for low- and high-resolution JPEG image files of Advanced EHF, please visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/AEHF

Jacques :-)

Offline TimL

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #4 on: 07/08/2010 10:53 pm »
Any sign of a mission book for this flight yet?
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Offline HIPAR

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #5 on: 07/09/2010 02:59 pm »
Not a mission book but, if you want to learn more about the satellite, here's a video that shows it during assembly and checkout:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/AdvancedExtremelyHighFrequencyEHF/index.html

(big download)

---  CHAS

Offline Danderman

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #6 on: 07/12/2010 04:24 pm »

A 431 has more payload capability than a 531.

To pick a nit, an Atlas 431 has more capability to high orbits and escape, but not LEO.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #7 on: 07/12/2010 05:24 pm »

A 431 has more payload capability than a 531.

To pick a nit, an Atlas 431 has more capability to high orbits and escape, but not LEO.

Due to the Centuar being enclosed in the payload fairing with different load paths and not being exposed to aero loads?
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Offline just-nick

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #8 on: 07/12/2010 10:48 pm »

A 431 has more payload capability than a 531.

To pick a nit, an Atlas 431 has more capability to high orbits and escape, but not LEO.

Due to the Centuar being enclosed in the payload fairing with different load paths and not being exposed to aero loads?
The enclosed Centaur can do some of the tricky long-coast missions that the 400-series can't...the big fairing lets them fly with improved insulation.  Not sure if that is relevant here...but it is interesting.

  --N

Offline Danderman

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #9 on: 07/13/2010 04:29 am »

A 431 has more payload capability than a 531.

To pick a nit, an Atlas 431 has more capability to high orbits and escape, but not LEO.

Due to the Centuar being enclosed in the payload fairing with different load paths and not being exposed to aero loads?

Kind of.

Online Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #10 on: 07/14/2010 05:46 pm »
Slipped:

ULA:
The Atlas V launch of the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite (AEHF-1) from SLC-41 at the cape has been delayed 10 days from 30 July to 10 August.  This delay was necessary to provide engineers more time to perform confidence testing on a launch vehicle component associated with releasing the fairing support structure.  Processing on both the launch vehicle and satellite continues nominally to a new launch date of 10 August.   This slip in the AEHF-1 launch is not expected to impact other launches in the manifest.
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Offline DanWerts

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #11 on: 07/27/2010 02:13 pm »
Hey everyone,
I like bringing up the Expendable launch vehicle page and streaming the video feeds.

Today, I did as I usually do and noticed that there was an active countdown and the note of an Atlas V LCH/AEHF-ICE3 due to launch.

I was just kind of curious if there has been much in the way of a report about payload, duration, mission etc.

Pardon my linking but heres the ELV page I follow:
http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/

As you can see, it has about 4 streaming links (LOX farm, 3-E tower, 18 MST and the KSC weather)

I was surprised to see there were no notes about this launch on any of the threads.
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Offline psloss

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #12 on: 07/27/2010 02:23 pm »
Thread is here; launch is in a couple of weeks:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21261.0

Probably looking at the Wet Dress Rehearsal countdown.

Offline DanWerts

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #13 on: 07/27/2010 02:33 pm »
Thanks for the update. I'll continue following the video and stream on ELV until it hits T-minus 0 then go ahead and delete my thread.
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Online edkyle99

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #14 on: 07/27/2010 02:42 pm »
Thread is here; launch is in a couple of weeks:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21261.0

Probably looking at the Wet Dress Rehearsal countdown.


Looks like SLC 37B (the Delta 4 pad) on the video monitors.  No rocket standing there yet.

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 07/27/2010 02:44 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline psloss

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 14, 2010
« Reply #15 on: 07/27/2010 02:45 pm »
Thread is here; launch is in a couple of weeks:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21261.0

Probably looking at the Wet Dress Rehearsal countdown.


Looks like SLC 37B (the Delta 4 pad).

 - Ed Kyle
Yeah, none of the views there are currently showing the Atlas pad.
« Last Edit: 08/10/2010 01:44 pm by Chris Bergin »

Offline DanWerts

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Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #16 on: 07/27/2010 02:49 pm »
Thread is here; launch is in a couple of weeks:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21261.0

Probably looking at the Wet Dress Rehearsal countdown.


Looks like SLC 37B (the Delta 4 pad).

 - Ed Kyle
Yeah, none of the views there are currently showing the Atlas pad.


Now that is a real pity then. 
I only know of the ELV page which has streaming video from the Air station.
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Offline Space Pete

Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #17 on: 07/28/2010 03:55 pm »
Launch is now 12th August.

Quote
Advanced Extremely High Frequencey 
Launch Vehicle/Mission: ATLAS V
Date: August 12
Pad: 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Window: 7:14 a.m. -- 9:14 am. EDT
Launch Hazard Area period: TBD
Launch Hazard Area
Restricted Airspace Map
From www.patrick.af.mil
NASASpaceflight ISS Editor

Offline Space Pete

Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #18 on: 08/02/2010 05:17 pm »
12th August now confirmed by ULA.

www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml
« Last Edit: 08/02/2010 05:17 pm by Space Pete »
NASASpaceflight ISS Editor

Online Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas V 531: AEHF-1 Satellite, August 12, 2010
« Reply #19 on: 08/03/2010 11:47 pm »
Sorry, forgot to add the mission booklet. Here it is:
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