Encyclopedia entry

Atlas V 531

Launch vehicle · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas V with 5-m diameter payload fairing, single engine Centaur upper stage, and three strap-on solid boosters.

More at: Atlas V 531.

Chronology

3 events

11:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. LV Family: Atlas V. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V 531.

USA 214 - . Payload: AEHF 1 / A2100M. Mass: 6,168 kg (13,598 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Martin. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100. USAF Sat Cat: 36868 . COSPAR: 2010-039A. Apogee: 35,807 km (22,249 mi). Perigee: 35,774 km (22,228 mi). Inclination: 4.37 deg. Period: 1,436.31 min.
First USAF Advanced EHF communications satellite. Placed in an initial 221 x 50179 km x 22.2 deg geosynchronous transfer orbit by the Atlas Centaur upper stage. However the satellite's main BT-4 engine failed, meaning the secondary hydrazine thrusters were used to much more satellite raise the spacecraft to geosynchronous orbit.

18:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. LV Family: Atlas V. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V 531.

USA 235 - . Payload: AEHF 2 / A2100M. Mass: 6,168 kg (13,598 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Communications. Type: Communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100. USAF Sat Cat: 38254 . COSPAR: 2012-019A. Apogee: 46,814 km (29,088 mi). Perigee: 25,572 km (15,889 mi). Inclination: 4.70 deg. Period: 1,456.90 min. US Air Force Advanced EHF communications satellite, providing strategic military EHF communications. First reflight of the bus with the Japanese IHI BT-4 apogee thruster (which had failed on the prior mission) and an electric propulsion system..

08:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. LV Family: Atlas V. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V 531.

USA 246 - . Payload: AEHF 3 / A2100M. Mass: 6,168 kg (13,598 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Communications. Type: Communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100. USAF Sat Cat: 39256 . COSPAR: 2013-050A. Apogee: 35,816 km (22,254 mi). Perigee: 35,756 km (22,217 mi). Inclination: 1.40 deg. Period: 1,436.07 min. Third Advanced EHF communications satellite for the US Air Force. The satellite has a Japanese IHI BT-4 bipropellant thruster and an Aerojet electric propulsion system..