CAPE CANAVERAL -- The next launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will have to wait a little while longer. Originally scheduled to blast off on Aug. 30, an Atlas V has had its launch date moved back ten days to Aug. 10. This delay was caused due to engineers requiring more time to test a component on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V. This part is responsible for separating the fairing, the protective shield that covers the payload during launch. Engineers want to make sure that there are no issues with this important function.
When the mission takes place, it will launch the first in a new series of military communication satellites. The Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) is the follow-on to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Milstar highly secure communication satellite program, which currently has a four-satellite operational constellation. The last Milstar satellite was launched in April 2003.
When the Atlas V with its AEHF-1 payload launches it will take place at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 41. The Air Force stated that the delay of this flight would not impact either the launch of a Delta IV heavy scheduled to launch on Oct. 19 or the Nov. 17 launch of another Atlas V.
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