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LIVE: Delta IV - SATCOM - December 5, 09
by
jacqmans
on 14 Oct, 2009 21:00
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Boeing's 3rd Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Shipped to Cape Canaveral
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that the third Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite built for the U.S. Air Force was shipped on Sept. 28 to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be tested and prepared for a November launch.
WGS-3 completes the initial constellation of three WGS satellites, which will provide high-capacity X-band and Ka-band communications to U.S. forces and allies across all current theaters of operation around the world. WGS-1 has been in operation over the Pacific since April 2008, and WGS-2 has been operating over the Middle East since August 2009. Both satellites have met or exceeded mission requirements throughout their testing and operational phases.
"With its extraordinary increase in satellite communications capacity and flexibility, WGS helps our warfighters more effectively execute their missions on land, at sea and in the air," said Brig. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Vice Commander of the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. "This is another great milestone for the WGS team, which is performing superbly and setting the standards for getting these critical communications assets into space and into operational use."
"WGS addresses our military's ever-growing appetite for high-bandwidth satellite communications," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "We're now working with the Air Force to determine how future WGS satellites could be enhanced to handle missions involving airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and communications-on-the-move."
WGS-3 was flown on an Air Force C-5 transport from Boeing's Satellite Development Center in El Segundo to Cape Canaveral last month. Before being shipped, WGS-3 completed mission assurance reviews and challenging factory tests that simulated the stress of the satellite's mission. The satellite successfully completed vibration tests and thermal vacuum tests. The vibration tests replicated the stresses of launch. Thermal vacuum tests were conducted in an airless chamber, with the satellite operating at full power, and subjected to extremes of heat and cold to simulate the working conditions it will experience in space.
At Cape Canaveral, WGS-3 will undergo about six weeks of prelaunch testing and processing, including fueling, encapsulation inside the launch vehicle fairing, and integration with the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV launch vehicle.
Boeing built two previous WGS satellites and is currently building three more for the Air Force. WGS-3 is the final satellite in the Block I series. Three Block II satellites are planned for launch in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
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#1
by
LostInSpace
on 23 Oct, 2009 23:30
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Can I assume delta is performing their tanking test? Tower is rolled back and the xenons are lit.
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#2
by
Jim
on 24 Oct, 2009 04:59
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It was completed yesterday
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#3
by
jimvela
on 12 Nov, 2009 18:40
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Launch attempt moved to NET Dec. 2. Further delay may begin to push on Delta II/WISE ILC due to personnel assignments and post-flight data review requirements.
That'd be a real shame for WISE- they have significant processing to do if their launch date moves around, because of the difficulties in chilling the cryogen for the instrument.
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#4
by
Nick L.
on 13 Nov, 2009 00:04
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I assume they wouldn't be able to put WISE ahead of WGS in the schedule if the latter is delayed further?
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#5
by
Chris Bergin
on 25 Nov, 2009 13:52
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#6
by
HIPAR
on 26 Nov, 2009 14:35
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Popular Geostationary satellite locations for near worldwide coverage. I've seen reference to WGS-3 being an Atlantic satellite.
--- CHAS
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#7
by
Antares
on 30 Nov, 2009 14:10
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80% chance of bad weather on Wednesday, 20% on Thursday.
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#8
by
DaveS
on 01 Dec, 2009 23:56
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#9
by
edkyle99
on 02 Dec, 2009 11:54
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ULA Mission Booklet
A Medium with a 5 meter "Heavy" upper stage. Am I remembering correctly that ULA intends to eventually phase out the 4 meter upper stage?
- Ed Kyle
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#10
by
Jim
on 02 Dec, 2009 12:53
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ULA Mission Booklet
A Medium with a 5 meter "Heavy" upper stage. Am I remembering correctly that ULA intends to eventually phase out the 4 meter upper stage?
- Ed Kyle
I believe it was the no solid CBC that they were going to phase out
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#11
by
Skyrocket
on 02 Dec, 2009 13:05
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I believe it was the no solid CBC that they were going to phase out
Is that the reason, why the GPS-IIF sats will fly on D-IVM(4,2) while a no solid D-IVM should have more than enough performance?
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#12
by
Chris Bergin
on 02 Dec, 2009 20:27
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Absolutely nothing to say, but getting annoyed with the wrong date on the thread title, so this post will correct
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#13
by
JosephB
on 02 Dec, 2009 22:59
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Does anyone know the story behind the platypus on the logo?
Edit: Also, not many "on the pad" pictures to be found...
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#14
by
Nick L.
on 02 Dec, 2009 23:11
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WGS originally stood for Wideband Gapfiller Satellite. Like the WGS, the platypus is the evolutionary "gapfiller" between reptiles and mammals. The name changed to Wideband Global Satcom, but the platypus stuck.
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#15
by
JosephB
on 02 Dec, 2009 23:30
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Thanks Nick. I'm surprised by the lack of pics to be found this close to launch?!
I wonder how many medium+(5,4) have flown before.
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#16
by
Nick L.
on 02 Dec, 2009 23:33
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I wonder how many medium+(5,4) have flown before.
None, this is the first flight.
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#17
by
sdsds
on 03 Dec, 2009 05:04
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I wonder how many medium+(5,4) have flown before.
None, this is the first flight.
Is the CBC for the M+ (5,4) structurally reinforced somehow to carry the added loads from the "extra" SRBs, or is it the same as every other CBC that has flown?
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#18
by
Jim
on 03 Dec, 2009 11:27
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it is different than all the others that have flown
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#19
by
Nick L.
on 03 Dec, 2009 11:31
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I wonder how many medium+(5,4) have flown before.
None, this is the first flight.
Is the CBC for the M+ (5,4) structurally reinforced somehow to carry the added loads from the "extra" SRBs, or is it the same as every other CBC that has flown?
Yes, the part that attaches the interstage to the upper part of the CBC is different. Also there is an X-brace inside the CBC which I assume connects all the SRM attach points for added strength. There are probably other changes as well.
