AFSPC-11

Mission

AFSPC-11

Type: Government/Top Secret

Primary payload of the mission is the Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM (CBAS) satellite, which will be placed in geosynchronous orbit. It will continously relay data from from existing military communications satellites to support senior leaders and combatant commanders. This mission will also launch a number of secondary payloads hosted on the ESPA Augmented Geostationary Laboratory Experiment (EAGLE).

Location

Space Launch Complex 41

Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

209 launches have been at this location.

Rocket

Atlas V 551

Length: 59.7 meters
Diameter: 3.8 meters
First Launched: January 19, 2006

Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Boeing. Each Atlas V rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage. The RD-180 engines are provided by RD Amross, while Aerojet Rocketdyne provides both the RL10 engines and the strap-on boosters used in some configurations. The standard payload fairing sizes are 4 or 5 meters in diameter and of various lengths. Fairings sizes as large as 7.2 m in diameter and up to 32.3 m in length have been considered. The rocket is assembled in Decatur, Alabama and Harlingen, Texas.

The Atlas V 551 rocket has been launched a total of 11 times with 11 successful and 0 failed launches.

Agency

United Launch Alliance

Type: Commercial
Abbreviation: ULA
Administration: CEO: Tory Bruno
Founded: 2006
Launchers: Atlas | Delta IV | Vulcan
Spacecraft: CST-100 Starliner
Country: USA

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.