Launch of TDO-2 with the AEHF-6 primary satellite
TDO-2 became the first satellite launched and deployed by the newly formed U.S. Space Force, flying on Atlas V 551 with AEHF-6.
In March 2020, Adaptive Launch Solutions — under contract with the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Mission Manifest Office, and in partnership with Parsons — delivered a fully tested and integrated multi-manifest small satellite vehicle, TDO-2, launched aboard the Atlas V 551 carrying the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)-6 primary satellite. On March 26, 2020, TDO-2 became the first satellite launched and deployed by the newly formed U.S. Space Force.
TDO-2 was a multi-manifest small satellite vehicle flying with the AEHF-6 mission, carrying multiple U.S. Government payloads providing optical calibration capabilities in support of space domain awareness.
The payload was integrated on the aft end of the Centaur upper stage, and TDO-2 deployed after the second main engine cutoff (MECO 2) and ahead of the anchor AEHF satellite — only the second time this event had occurred during a National Security Space Launch mission.
Against a historical integration timeline for traditional satellites of roughly 24 months, it is another example of ALS and the U.S. Space Force Mission Manifest Office driving integration flexibility and responsiveness into the National Security Space planning process, and rapidly delivering capability to the warfighter.
