Air Force space officials announced that AEHF-2, the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite, is now encapsulated in its launch fairing in preparation for its scheduled launch into orbit this week from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. The current launch date—barring inclement weather—is May 3, stated Space and Missile Systems Center officials on April 27. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will carry the satellite aloft. SMC said engineers at Astrotech Space Operations’ facility in Titusville, Fla., completed the encapsulation procedure on April 21. “The second AEHF spacecraft will provide greater connectivity, flexibility, and control to US and international partner forces,” said Col. Michael Sarchet, AEHF program manager. He added, “The AEHF constellation will augment and replace the venerable Milstar constellation, improving on many capabilities to include 10 times greater throughput.”
The Air Force conducted its first successful test of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, on May 14, snapping a streak of three consecutive failed tests and giving the beleaguered hypersonics program a much needed boost. Off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A ARRW separated from the wing…