 Artist's impression of an AEHF-6 satellite | |
| Names | AEHF-6 Advanced Extremely High Frequency-6 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Military communications |
| Operator | United States Space Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2020-022B |
| SATCATno. | 45465 |
| Website | https://www.spaceforce.mil/ |
| Mission duration | 14 years (planned) 5 years and 5 days(in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AEHF-5 |
| Bus | A2100M |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space |
| Launch mass | 6,168 kg (13,598 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 March 2020, 20:18:00UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 551 (AV-086) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral,SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geosynchronous orbit |
← AEHF-5 | |
USA-298, also known asAdvanced Extremely High Frequency 6 orAEHF-6, is a militarycommunications satellite operated by theUnited States Space Force (USSF). It is the sixth of six satellite to be launched as part of theAdvanced Extremely High Frequency program, which replaced the earlierMilstar system.[1]
The USA-298 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, Canada, and Australia.[2]
USA-298 was launched byUnited Launch Alliance, aboard anAtlas V 551 flying fromSLC-41 at theCape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The launch occurred at 20:18:00UTC on 26 March 2020,[3] placing the satellite into ageostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with aperigee of 12,543 km (7,794 mi), anapogee of 30,672 km (19,059 mi), and 9.95°inclination.[4] The satellite was successfully deployed in this orbit about five and a half hours after launch.
Alongside AEHF-6, theU.S. Air ForceSpace and Missile Systems Center launched an experimental 12Ucubesat known as TDO-2 (Technology Demonstration Orbiter). The satellite was deployed, after 30 minutes in the flight,[5] prior to AEHF-6, from a dispenser on the aft of theCentaur upper stage into an orbit with a perigee of 200 km (120 mi) and an apogee of 35,459 km (22,033 mi).[6]
