Space Force launches first mission with virus precautions

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A top-ofthe-line Atlas V rocket launched off its Cape Canaveral pad Thursday afternoon, taking with it the first official mission for the newly established U.S. Space Force.

With the force of more than 2.5 million pounds of thrust, the United Launch Alliance rocket equipped with five solid rocket motors boosted a 14,500-pound military communications satellite, setting it up for a separation from the second stage about six hours after its 4:18 p.m liftoff. Launch Complex 41 hosted the mission under clear blue skies.

Although the mission didn’t launch at the opening of its two-hour window because of technical issues with hy“Congrats draulic ground equipment, teams were able to work around the setback and launch less than an hour before the window closed.

Atlas V’s payload was AEHF-6, or the sixth and final Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, built by Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, California. The constellation provides communications support to U.S. and allied military members and includes several Earthobserving instruments. A single AEHF satellite is more powerful than the entire MILSTAR constellation it replaces. Those were launched through the 1990s and into the early 2000s.

Despite it being the final AEHF, it was the newly created Space Force’s first national security mission. Located under the Air Force in the same way the Marine Corps slots under the Navy, the branch was established in December.

(to United Launch Alliance) on today’s successful launch of AEHF-6 – our first USSF National Security Space Launch,” Space Force Commander Gen. Jay Raymond said after liftoff. “On behalf of the Space Force and joint warfighters who depend on protected (satellite communications) ... thank you!”

Although the coronavirus pandemic didn’t delay Thursday’s launch, the Space Coast’s next mission – a SpaceX Falcon 9 – was indefinitely halted because of resource and travel restrictions caused by the virus. The rocket will launch with an Argentine communications satellite as soon as virus-related impacts subside.

Beyond that, SpaceX was scheduled to launch a batch of 60 more Starlink communications satellites in midApril.

JOHN RAOUX/AP A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off from launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with a payload of a high-frequency satellite in Cape Canaveral, Fla.