USA-246
 Artist's impression of an AEHF-3 satellite | |
| Names | AEHF-3 Advanced Extremely High Frequency-3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Military communications |
| Operator | United States Air Force/United States Space Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-050A |
| SATCATno. | 39256 |
| Website | https:// spaceforce.mil/ |
| Mission duration | 14 years (planned) 11 years and 13 days(in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AEHF-3 |
| Bus | A2100M |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space |
| Launch mass | 6,168 kg (13,598 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 September 2013, 08:10:00UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V531 (AV-041) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral,SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geosynchronous orbit |
USA-246,also known asAdvanced Extremely High Frequency 3orAEHF-3,is a militarycommunications satelliteoperated by theUnited States Air Force.It is the third of six satellites to be launched as part of theAdvanced Extremely High Frequencyprogram, which replaced the earlierMilstarsystem.[1]
Satellite
[edit]The USA-246 satellite was constructed byLockheed Martin Space,and is based on theA2100satellite bus.The satellite has a mass of 6,168 kg (13,598 lb) and a design life of 14 years.[2]It will be used to providesuper high frequency(SHF) andextremely high frequency(EHF) communications for theUnited States Armed Forces,as well as those of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada.[1]
Launch
[edit]
USA-246 was launched byUnited Launch Alliance,aboard anAtlas V531 flying fromSpace Launch Complex 41(SLC-41) at theCape Canaveral Air Force Station(CCAFS). After a number of weather-related delays, the launch occurred at 08:10:00UTCon 18 September 2013,[3]placing the satellite in a parking orbit of 178 kilometers by 1,041 kilometers. A second burn placed the satellite into ageostationary transfer orbit(GTO) with aperigeeof 225 km (140 mi), anapogeeof 50,051 km (31,100 mi), and 20.52°inclination.[4]The satellite was successfully deployed in this orbit 50 minutes after launch.[1]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abc"AEHF-3 Mission Overview"(PDF).United Launch Alliance.Retrieved17 May2021.
- ^"AEHF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6".Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020.Retrieved17 May2021.
- ^Graham, William (17 September 2013)."ULA Atlas V launches with AEHF-3 satellite".NASASpaceFlight.Retrieved17 May2021.
- ^"JSR No.686".23 September 2013.Retrieved17 May2021.