LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the AFSPC-11 dual payload mission on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on April 14 at 7:13 p.m. EDT.
“Congratulations to the AFSPC-11 integrated team and all mission partners on a successful launch. This is testament to the dedicated government and contractor professionals who work tirelessly mission-by-mission to achieve 100 percent mission success.” said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, Space and Missile Systems Center commander and Air Force program executive officer for space.
Launch services for the Atlas V 551 vehicle were acquired by the Space and Missile Systems Center. First used in 2006, this Atlas vehicle configuration successfully launched the New Horizons satellite, the Juno satellite, and five Navy communications MUOS missions.
The AFSPC-11 mission consisted of the Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM (CBAS) forward payload and the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Augmented Geosynchronous Laboratory Experiment (EAGLE) aft payload.
Managed by the Military Satellite Communications Directorate of the U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, CBAS is a military satellite communications spacecraft destined for geosynchronous orbit to provide communications relay capabilities to support senior leaders and combatant commanders. CBAS will augment existing military satellite communications capabilities and broadcast military data continuously through space-based, satellite communications relay links.
The Air Force Research Laboratory EAGLE payload’s primary mission objective is to demonstrate a maneuverable ESPA based on a space vehicle design which can accommodate up to six hosted or deployable payloads in geosynchronous orbit.
SMC is the U.S. Air Force's center for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes GPS, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space-based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.
Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil.