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Mission Profile: Launch of ULA Atlas V with AEHF-4
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A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on the platform of Launch Pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Base on Monday, October 15, 2018.(Photo: United Launch Alliance)

An Atlas Lanc V rocket, launched by the United Launch Alliance, in its most powerful configuration, was deployed on Monday at the deck of Cape Canaveral Air Base, paving the way for a night launch with a spacecraft destined for a constellation. military.

The 197-foot rocket equipped with five solid rocket-powered rocket engines was launched at Launch Complex 41 shortly before midday and is expected to take off in a two-hour window opening at 12:15 pm on Wednesday.

Onboard: The Air Force Ultra-Frequency Communications Satellite 4, in a $ 15-billion constellation designed to enhance the communications of military forces from the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom . The AEHF system was developed by Lockheed Martin and is expected to eventually include six satellites.

Atlas V will be responsible for providing AEHF-4 in a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The weather, on the other hand, seems quite favorable, with forecasters at 45 Squadron predicting that 80% of the conditions will be difficult to follow during the window. The presence of cumulus was the main concern.

Wednesday's mission marks the definitive launch of ULA operations in the eastern part of 2018. However, in the west of Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, ULA teams are expected to launch in December a three-core Delta IV Heavy with a mission of the National Recognition Office known as NROL-71.

Join floridatoday.com/space/ for countdown updates and discussion at 11:30 pm. Tuesday, including webcast of the ULA launch webcast starting approximately 20 minutes before takeoff. The 321 LAUNCH app, powered by augmented reality, will also include live coverage of the mission.

Contact Emre Kelly at [email protected] or 321-242-3715. Follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram on @EmreKelly.

Launch Wednesday:

  • Rocket: ULA Atlas V
  • Mission: the AEHF-4 satellite of the Air Force
  • Launch time: 12:15
  • Launch window: 2:15
  • Launching Complex: 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base
  • Landing: none
  • Weather: 80 percent "go"

How to download 321 LAUNCH:

Find the free 321 LAUNCH app in the Apple App Store or in Google Play for Android devices.

Version 1.1 of the application now supports the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket in all its configurations. If you already have the application, be sure to update it with the latest version.

List of system requirements:

Apple: iPhone 6S or newer; Fifth generation iPad (2017) or newer. All require iOS 11 and later.

Android AR capabilities are limited to specific models running Nougat 7.0 and later. See the full list at developers.google.com/ar/discover/.

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