Skip to main content
Space Space
Subscribe
RSS
All About Space Magazine
All About Space Magazine
Why subscribe?
  • Exclusive Father's Day Offer: Treat your dad this Father's Day to a subscription of All About Space from just £25
From$3.99
View
  • News
  • Astronomy
  • Spaceflight
  • The Moon
  • Our Solar System
  • Skywatching
  • More
    • Videos
    • Search for LIfe
    • Technology
    • Entertainment
    • Reference
    • SpaceX
    • Expert Voices
    • Forums
    • All Topics
    • Subscribe to "All About Space" Magazine!
    • Space.com Store
    • About Us
    • Web Notifications
Trending
  • Video from Mars!
  • Next Full Moon
  • Best Telescopes
  • Best Star Projectors
  • Space Calendar
  • Best Binoculars
  • Lego Star Wars deals
  • Best Drones
  • Solar System Planets
  • Night Sky Tonight
  • Russia-Ukraine war space impacts

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Spaceflight

In photos: Atlas V launches AEHF-6 military satellite for US Space Force

By Christine Lunsford
published 15 May 2020

Comments (0)
Rolling on out
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Rolling on out

At 4:18pm EDT (2018 GMT) on March 26, 2020, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket blasted off, carrying a satellite for the United States Space Force.

The rocket launched the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6 ) mission, a communications satellite for the U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. The mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. 

See the amazing AEHF-6 mission in photos here. This view shows the Atlas V rocket making its way to the launch pad from the Vertical Integration Facility at SLC-41.

Page 1 of 14
Page 1 of 14
Mission in tow
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Mission in tow

The Atlas V rocket rolls toward the launch pad at Complex-41. The rocket stands tall as it carries with it the AEHF-6 communication satellite for the U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center.

Page 2 of 14
Page 2 of 14
New logo
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

New logo

On the side of the ULA's Atlas V rocket, you can spot the blue, "Star Trek'-esque logo for the United States Space Force. In this photo, the rocket is making the trek to the Complex-41 launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Page 3 of 14
Page 3 of 14
Quite a view
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Quite a view

As the sun sets at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, ULA's Atlas V rocket sits on the launchpad, ready to go with the AEHF-6 satellite aboard.

Page 4 of 14
Page 4 of 14
Blast off!
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Blast off!

Flames roar from the Atlas V's engines as it carries the AEHF-6 mission into space for the U.S. Space Force.

Page 5 of 14
Page 5 of 14
Up and Away
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Up and Away

On March 26, 2020, ULA's V rocket blasted off from Space Launch Complex 41's launchpad carrying a U.S. Space Force payload.

Page 6 of 14
Page 6 of 14
To orbit
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

To orbit

The U.S. Space Force's AEHF-5 mission lifted off aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket on the afternoon of March 26, 2020.

Page 7 of 14
Page 7 of 14
Fire and smoke
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Fire and smoke

Flames roar and smoke spreads as ULA's Atlas V rocket carries the AEHF-6 communication satellite into orbit. 

Page 8 of 14
Page 8 of 14
Rising from Earth
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Rising from Earth

At 4:18pm EDT on March 26, 2020, the Space Force's AEHF-6 mission rose from Earth aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket.

Page 9 of 14
Page 9 of 14
Sunny afternoon, successful launch
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Sunny afternoon, successful launch

Another successful launch rose from Space Launch Complex -41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. In this photo you can see smoke billowing out from the Atlas V rocket. 

Page 10 of 14
Page 10 of 14
Power revealed
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Power revealed

As the Atlas V rocket blasts off from the Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad, the power of the rocket is evident with the fire and smoke left in its wake.

Page 11 of 14
Page 11 of 14
Sleek and cool
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Sleek and cool

As the Atlas V rocket powers into orbit with the AEHF-6 mission inside. The rocket's sleek design is magnificent to witness — rising powerfully and beautifully into the afternoon sky.

Page 12 of 14
Page 12 of 14
From a distance
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

From a distance

Even from a far-off vantage point, the beauty and power of the launch is clear. The ULA Atlas V rocket releases a fiery blast that shoots smoke across the Space Launch Complex-41 to the Vertical Integration Facility. 

Page 13 of 14
Page 13 of 14
Something to see
(Image credit: United Launch Alliance)

Something to see

Early in the afternoon on March 26, 2020, ULA's Atlas V rocket took off, leaving this trailing tail of smoke behind it. 

Page 14 of 14
Page 14 of 14
Comments (0)
Christine Lunsford
Christine Lunsford
Social Links Navigation
Producer and Contributing Writer

Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds. 

More about spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 V2 mini Starlink satellites launches into the blue Florida sky from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 4, 2023.

SpaceX launch 22 Starlink 'V2 mini' satellites into orbit, lands rocket at sea (video)

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with capsule and black winged bottom against a blue sky

Watch SpaceX launch Dragon cargo mission to space station today after one-day delay

Latest
Shenzhou 15 astronaut Zhang Lu sits in front of his capsule with recovery teams

China's Shenzhou 15 capsule lands safely with 3 Tiangong space station astronauts (video)

See more latest ►
No comments yet Comment from the forums
Most Popular
UFOs worth investigating despite lack of 'real evidence,' former astronaut Scott Kelly says

By Brett TingleyJune 02, 2023

Mysterious cosmic threads are reaching out from the Milky Way's monster black hole

By Keith CooperJune 02, 2023

Spain signs the Artemis Accords for peaceful moon exploration

By Andrew JonesJune 02, 2023

Mickey Mouse celebrates the Space Age as astronaut on Disney100 Citizen watch

By Robert Z. PearlmanJune 02, 2023

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission — Live updates

By Elizabeth HowellJune 02, 2023

See Mars buzz the dense stars of the Beehive Cluster tonight

By Sharmila KuthunurJune 02, 2023

Meta reveals the new Quest 3 VR headset with a $499.99 price tag

By Alexander CoxJune 02, 2023

'I'm ready. Let's go!' Record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson eager for next flight after private Ax-2 mission

By Mike WallJune 02, 2023

Space pictures! See our image of the day

By Space.com StaffJune 02, 2023

Watch live views of Mars from a European probe at the Red Planet in a 1st-of-its-kind livestream today

By Mike WallJune 02, 2023

World's 1st 'hacking sandbox' satellite and more to ride on SpaceX's next NASA cargo launch

By Josh DinnerJune 02, 2023

  1. It's the 1st of 2 SpaceX launches from Florida today and comes 13 years to the day of the 1st Falcon 9 flight.
    1
    SpaceX launch 22 Starlink 'V2 mini' satellites into orbit, lands rocket at sea (video)
  2. 2
    See the Full Strawberry Moon of June share the sky with Mars and a half Venus tonight
  3. 3
    Watch SpaceX launch Dragon cargo mission to space station today after one-day delay
  4. 4
    China's Shenzhou 15 space capsule lands safely, 3 astronauts home after months on Tiangong station (video)
  5. 5
    Ice clouds high in Earth's atmosphere could help predict climate change. NASA wants a closer look

Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Topics
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.