{"id":19916,"date":"2018-05-22T17:03:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T17:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/22\/new-air-force-satellite-for-protected-comms-passes-key-test\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:11:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:11:02","slug":"new-air-force-satellite-for-protected-comms-passes-key-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/c2-comms\/satellites\/2018\/05\/22\/new-air-force-satellite-for-protected-comms-passes-key-test\/","title":{"rendered":"New Air Force satellite for protected comms passes key test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Air Force satellite used for highly protected communications has survived 39 days of extreme temperatures, keeping it on track for a 2019 launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That news come from Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor on the Air Force\u2019s $15 billion Advanced Extremely High Frequency program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fifth satellite in the current generation, known as AEHF-5, passed Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) testing, used to recreate the conditions the satellite will operate under in space. The satellite also completed acoustic testing that simulates the vibrations caused by high intensity, low frequency sound waves experienced during rocket propulsion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTVAC and acoustic tests are critical milestones in the production cycle of a satellite, where we have one shot to get it right, so we take every precaution to ensure the vehicle is ready for the harsh space environment,\u201d said Michael Cacheiro, Lockheed\u2019s vice president for protected communications said in a May 21 statement. \u201cThe team and the satellite performed flawlessly, and AEHF-5 is now in system level testing.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\t