Summary: CAPE CANAVERAL – The first-of-its-kind Advanced Extremely High Frequency 1 (AEHF-1) military satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC 41) right on time at 7:07 a.m. EDT. Morning launches are always spectacular (even if you aren’t a morning person) and his one was no different. The slow, steady roar of the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket reached out across the marshy landscape and reminded everyone in attendance that Cape Canaveral was a place written in rocket fire. This launch was historic in that it will see an upgrade in the capabilities of the United States and her allies. The AEHF class of military satellites will replace the aging Milstar fleet. A single AEHF-class satellite will have greater capabilities than the entire Milstar fleet – combined. Currently, the AEHF fleet is expected to consist of three operational satellites and a fourth “spare” satellite. The window for this morning’s launch opened at 7:07 a.m. (EDT) and extended two hours until 9:07 a.m. EDT. The U.S. Air Force worked through a number of issues including a problematic fairing control mechanism and a broke crane to get the satellite and its launch vehicle ready for launch.
