USA-235

USA-235
Artist's impression of an AEHF-2 satellite
NamesAEHF-2
Advanced Extremely High Frequency-2
Mission typeMilitary communications
OperatorUnited States Air Force / United States Space Force
COSPAR ID2012-019A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.38254
Websitehttps://www.spaceforce.mil/
Mission duration14 years (planned)
12 years, 6 months and 29 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftAEHF-2
BusA2100M
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Space
Launch mass6,168 kg (13,598 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date4 May 2012, 18:24 UTC
RocketAtlas V 531 (AV-031)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-41
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeosynchronous orbit
← AEHF-1
AEHF-3 →

USA-235, also known as Advanced Extremely High Frequency 2 or AEHF-2, is a military communications satellite operated by the United States Air Force. It is the second of six satellite to be launched as part of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency program, which replaced the earlier Milstar system.[1]

Satellite description

The USA-235 satellite was constructed by Lockheed Martin Space, and is based on the A2100 satellite 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 provide super high frequency (SHF) and extremely high frequency (EHF) communications for the United States Armed Forces, as well as those of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada.[1]

Launch

USA-235 was launched by United Launch Alliance, aboard an Atlas V 531 flying from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The launch occurred at 18:24 UTC on 4 May 2012,[3] first placing the satellite in a parking orbit of 185 kilometers by 905 kilometers. A second burn placed the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 225 km (140 mi), an apogee of 50,031 km (31,088 mi), and 20.6° inclination.[4] The satellite was successfully deployed in this orbit 51 minutes after launch.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Atlas V AEHF-2 - Mission Overview" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ "AEHF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". Gunter's Space Page. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Display: AEHF-2 2012-019A". NASA. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "JSR # 658". Jonathan's Space Report. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2021.