Author Topic: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018  (Read 48642 times)

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #140 on: 10/17/2018 08:13 am »
"At separation, the spacecraft is expected to be in an orbit of 8,914 by 35,299 kilometers (5,539 by 21,934 miles, 4,813 by 19,060 nautical miles), inclined at 12.8 degrees "
Could anybody calculate delta V for GSO?

theta1 =  0.02 deg, dv1 =    9.8 m/s
theta2 = 12.78 deg, dv2 = 1016.4 m/s
dv = 1026.2 m/s

http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/gto.zip

Congratulations to ULA and USAF for the successful launch!
« Last Edit: 10/17/2018 08:14 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #142 on: 10/17/2018 08:50 am »
News Release Issued: Oct 17, 2018 (4:23am EDT)


New Lockheed Martin-Built Protected Communications Satellite Confirmed Online in Orbit Following Successful Launch

Fourth Satellite Will Complete Global Coverage for Advanced Extremely High Frequency Constellation

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communication satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the U.S. Air Force, was successfully launched today at 12:15 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket. Lockheed Martin confirmed signal acquisition at 3:47 a.m. ET.

U.S. Air Force's fourth Lockheed Martin-built AEHF satellite is encapsulated in its launch fairings prior to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The AEHF system provides global, survivable, highly secure and protected communications for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms. The satellite will now move into a testing phase prior to hand over to the Air Force. With four satellites in orbit, the AEHF constellation completes a geostationary ring and will be able to deliver global coverage.

"It's good to return with our mission partners to see the culmination of expertise, skill and partnership that we have worked diligently toward to make this AEHF launch a success," said Mike Cacheiro, vice president of Protected Communication Systems at Lockheed Martin. "This is a substantial milestone for AEHF, and as we look ahead, we continue to improve and upgrade this mission to deliver these vital communications capabilities to the Air Force."

AEHF also serves international partners including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Lockheed Martin is on contract with the Air Force to deliver the fifth and sixth satellites and upgraded the Mission Planning ground system. Lockheed Martin contributed payload system engineering, mission control ground software, solar arrays and the LM A2100 spacecraft bus, which is a dependable and low-risk platform for commercial, civil and military satellites. All AEHF satellites are assembled at the company's Sunnyvale, Calif. facility.

One AEHF satellite provides greater total capacity than the entire legacy five-satellite Milstar constellation. Individual data rates increase five-fold, permitting transmission of tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. In addition, AEHF affords national leaders anti-jam, always-on connectivity during all levels of conflict.

The AEHF team includes the U.S. Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate 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, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider.
Jacques :-)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #144 on: 10/17/2018 10:02 am »
Quote
United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AEHF-4 Mission

Atlas V AEHF-4 Mission Information Page
Atlas V AEHF-4 Mission Overview
Photos: Atlas V AEHF-4

50th Launch for the U.S. Air Force
 
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (Oct. 17, 2018) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) mission for the U.S. Air Force lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on Oct. 17 at 12:15 a.m. EDT. The launch of AEHF-4 marks ULA’s 50th launch for the U.S. Air Force; ULA’s first Air Force mission was Space Test Program-1 (STP-1), launched March 8, 2007.
 
“ULA’s unparalleled record of successfully launching and placing payloads in orbit signifies our profound commitment to national defense,” said Tory Bruno, ULA president and CEO. “We remain the only launch provider capable of placing our customers’ payloads into any national security space orbit, anytime, which we’ve proudly exhibited through 50 launches for the U.S. Air Force.”
 
“Over the past 12 years, the men and women of ULA have reliably delivered dozens of Air Force payloads into orbit from GPS to WGS, and SBIRS to AEHF,” said Gen. Jay Raymond, commander of Air Force Space Command. “ULA’s unprecedented 100 percent launch success has directly contributed to our national security. Congratulations to the entire launch team on a successful 50th launch for the U.S. Air Force.”
 
This mission launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 551 configuration vehicle, which includes a 5-meter large Payload Fairing (PLF) and stands at 197 ft. tall.
 
Producing more than two and a half million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the Atlas V 551 configuration rocket is the most powerful in the Atlas V fleet. The 551 rocket has launched groundbreaking missions for our nation—from the critically important Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) constellation to historic science missions including New Horizons, the first mission to Pluto, and the Juno mission to Jupiter.
 
The AEHF system, developed by Lockheed Martin, provides vastly improved global, survivable, protected communications capabilities for strategic command and tactical warfighters.
 
“Today’s launch exemplifies ULA’s ongoing commitment to 100 percent mission success,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs.”My sincere thanks to the entire ULA team and our mission partners who made this, our 50th launch for the U.S. Air Force, possible.”
 
AEHF-4 is ULA’s eighth launch in 2018 and 131st successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

ULA's next launch is the NROL-71 mission for the National Reconnaisance Office on a Delta IV Heavy rocket. The launch is scheduled for Nov. 29 from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the world’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 130 satellites to orbit that provide Earth observation capabilities, enable global communications, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, and support life-saving technology.
 
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch. 

https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news/2018/10/17/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-aehf-4-mission
« Last Edit: 10/17/2018 10:03 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline SciNews

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #145 on: 10/17/2018 11:05 am »
Edited video of the launch

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #146 on: 10/17/2018 11:12 am »
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #147 on: 10/17/2018 11:36 am »
Spacecraft separation.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #148 on: 10/17/2018 11:46 am »
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #149 on: 10/17/2018 11:47 am »
Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #150 on: 10/17/2018 11:48 am »
Jacques :-)

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #151 on: 10/17/2018 12:05 pm »
Atlas V Solids by calendar year
2003: 2
2004: 2
2005: 3
2006: 6
2007: 2
2008: 3
2009: 5
2010: 3
2011: 10
2012: 8
2013: 8
2014: 8
2015: 14
2016: 15
2017: 6
2018: 15

Total 110   
« Last Edit: 10/17/2018 12:14 pm by vapour_nudge »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #152 on: 10/17/2018 06:20 pm »
Some of the names of those seen and/or heard in the webcast:

Tyler Strickland, Launch Commentator
Ed Kitta, Launch Conductor
USAF Maj. Matthew Getts, Program Manager
Patrick Moore, Atlas V flight commentary  (any relation to the late, great Sir Patrick Moore?)
Marty Malinowski, Atlas V Chief Engineer
Lori O'Donley, AEHF Comm Lead
***

Thank you, Steven and Chris, for the live coverage!
***

Several fresh, young faces sighted in key roles.
« Last Edit: 10/17/2018 06:23 pm by zubenelgenubi »
Support your local planetarium! (COVID-panic and forward: Now more than ever.) My current avatar is saying "i wants to go uppies!" Yes, there are God-given rights. Do you wish to gainsay the Declaration of Independence?

Online catdlr

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #153 on: 10/18/2018 01:47 am »
Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - Ultra Hi Def Tracking 10-17-2018

USLaunchReport
Published on Oct 17, 2018

Watch Solids, Fairings up to Mico. Atlas most powerful version. We are upgrading our equipment to all 4K with true optical reach.





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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #154 on: 10/18/2018 01:49 am »
Atlas 5 launches the USAF AEHF-4 satellite - UP CLOSE VIEWS

AmericaSpace
Published on Oct 17, 2018



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Offline ZachS09

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #155 on: 10/18/2018 03:50 am »
My AEHF 4 launch montage, comprised of video taken from Route 401 in Port Canaveral, video snippets from two previous Atlas V missions (MUOS 3 and GOES-S), and audio from ULA's webcast.

Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #156 on: 10/18/2018 08:52 pm »
43651    AEHF 4 (USA 288)   2018-079A   
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #157 on: 10/20/2018 01:33 am »
Rocket Talk: 250th Centaur

United Launch Alliance
Published on Oct 19, 2018

The Oct. 17, 2018, launch of the AEHF-4 mission marked the 250th flight for the high-energy, fully cryogenic Centaur upper stage. ULA's Rick Beach, Greg Arend and George Kontogiannis talk about the design and evolution of the world's most efficient upper stage.





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Offline edkyle99

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #158 on: 10/20/2018 02:34 pm »
I find the repainted tower font challenged.  IMO.  :)

« Last Edit: 10/20/2018 02:37 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 551 - AEHF-4 - October 17, 2018
« Reply #159 on: 10/26/2018 12:04 am »
https://www.schriever.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1669053/aehf-4-launch-provides-critical-support-to-users/

AEHF-4 launch provides critical support to users

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster, 50th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published October 23, 2018



SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --

The 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado made first contact with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency Four satellite minutes after its launch Oct. 17.

United Launch Alliance used an Atlas V 551 rocket to launch the AEHF-4 communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Lt. Col. Armon Lansing, 4th SOPS commander, said the spacecraft will provide some new capabilities.

 “Many of the space systems we have are ageing and this launch provides some new capabilities as far as security and increasing bandwidth for our strategic and tactical users,” he said.

This is the fourth spacecraft in the new system of protected satellite communication systems and ninth in the group of protected satellites.

The system is a joint-service satellite communications system, providing survivable, global, secure, protected and jam-resistant communications for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets.

“This particular space craft, being AEHF, is primarily designed for the strategic fight, supporting missile defense and presidential communications,” Lansing said. “However, with the upgrade and additional capabilities, it also provides some links for our tactical users as well.  There are more tactical users looking into and desiring this capability to be able to ensure their communications get through.”

The first three AEHF satellites were successfully launched in 2010, 2012 and 2013 as the new constellation was formed in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth to build up and eventually succeed the legacy Milstar fleet. One AEHF satellite has greater capacity than the entire five-satellite Milstar constellation.

This jam-resistant system also serves international partners including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

First Lieutenant Andrew Donlin, Space and Missile Systems Center business operations director for the AEHF-4 space segment, said the collaborative work of allied countries in the space realm is paramount.

“Going forward, for the future of space operations, it is really important we work with our allies to provide capabilities to the warfighter,” he said.

The entire project’s production was an international affair, with parts constructed from Los Angeles, California to as far as Zurich Switzerland.

Second Lieutenant Johnathan Desimone, SMC project officer with the AEHF program office said the work of the production and launch teams is a great achievement.

“Today was a monumental occasion,” he said. “We are all extremely proud and happy to be part of team.”

The Air Force will continue to expand the AEHF constellation to meet the demands of the Defense Department and the warfighter.  AEHF-5 is projected to launch in the summer of 2019 and AEHF-6 in 2020.
« Last Edit: 10/26/2018 12:05 am by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

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