Air Force launches AEHF-2

The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft at 2:42 p.m. EDT, May 4 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The satellite was carried aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. Photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance.

Air Force launches AEHF-2

The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft at 2:42 p.m. EDT, May 4 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The satellite was carried aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. Photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance.

AEHF-2 moves to the launch pad

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (May 2, 2012) - A United Launch Alliance Atlas V is rolled to the pad readying for launch at Space Launch Complex-41 with Space and Missile Systems Center's Advanced Extremely High Frequency-2 (AEHF-2) satellite. Launch is scheduled for May 3 with a two-hour window which opens at 2:46 p.m. EDT. Photo courtesy of ULA.

Latest Air Force satellite prepares for final processing.

The U.S. Air Force's fourth Wideband Global satellite communication spacecraft arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Nov. 15. Photo by Capt. Joseph Maguadog, Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center.

Enhancing Military Communications

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2009) -- A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket with the Air Force’s Wideband Global SATCOM-3 (WGS-3) satellite lifts off from its Space Launch Complex-37 launch pad at 8:47 p.m. EST today. WGS satellites are important elements of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to America’s troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. (United Launch Alliance photo by Pat Corkery)

Courtesy Photo by Carlton Bailie, United Launch Alliance

A Delta II rocket lifts off from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. carrying the latest GPS IIR(M) satellite into space. The launch occurred at 3:04 p.m. EST.

GPS Satellite Launched

Lifting towards space aboard a Delta II rocket, the fourth modernized GPS IIR-17(M) satellite was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla, Oct. 17.The satellite will join the constellation of 30 operational satellites on-orbit providing global coverage and increased overall performance of the GPS services to users worldwide. (Photo Courtesy of United Launch Alliance - Carleton Bailie)

WGS Launch

An Atlas V rocket carrying the first Wideband Global Satellite streaks into the Central Florida evening sky after liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41, Oct. 10. This first WGS satellite will provide more communications capability for the military than the entire Defense Satellite Communications System satellite constellation currently on orbit. (Photo by Chris Miller, Spaceflight Now.com)

WGS Atlas V Rollout

The Atlas V rocket with the Wideband Global SATCOM satellite rolls out to Space Launch Complex-41 from its Vertical Integration Building at 10 a.m., Oct. 9. The Atlas V was rolled to the pad in preparation for the launch of WGS-1 set for Oct. 10 with at launch window of 8:22-9:33 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. (Photo by Pat Corkery, ULA)

WGS

The U.S. Air Force’s first Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) spacecraft was encapsulated Sept. 24 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. This encapsulation event is a significant milestone in Wideband's launch process as it marks completion of Air Force Satellite Control Network compatibility testing, propellant loading, and payload and bus functional testing. The spacecraft is now ready to make the journey to Space Launch Complex - 41 for mate with its Atlas V 421 launch vehicle. It is scheduled to be launched on Oct. 9 at 8:22 PM EDT.

AEHF

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif. mated the payload module on the propulsion core of the first Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellite. The vehicle-1 (SV-1) will continue mechanical integration activities for about two months. It will then proceed into Baseline Integrated System Test to characterize the performance of the overall satellite prior to subjecting the satellite to environmental testing. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

NFIRE Launch 23 Apr

The Missile Defense Agency’s NFIRE satellite lifted off aboard an Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket April 24 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the east coast of Virginia. (Photo courtesy of NASA)