 Artist's impression of an AEHF-3 satellite | |
| Names | AEHF-3 Advanced Extremely High Frequency-3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Military communications |
| Operator | United States Air Force / United States Space Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-050A |
| SATCAT no. | 39256 |
| Website | https://www.spaceforce.mil/ |
| Mission duration | 14 years (planned) 11 years, 2 months and 2 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AEHF-3 |
| Bus | A2100M |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space |
| Launch mass | 6,168 kg (13,598 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 September 2013, 08:10:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 531 (AV-041) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geosynchronous orbit |
USA-246, also known as Advanced Extremely High Frequency 3 or AEHF-3, is a military communications satellite operated by the United States Air Force. It is the third of six satellites to be launched as part of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency program, which replaced the earlier Milstar system.[1]
- ^ "AEHF-3 Mission Overview" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 17 May 2021.