Atlas launches military communications satellite
Posted: Sat, Apr 4, 2009, 10:59 AM ET (1459 GMT)
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the second in a new series of military communications satellites Friday night. The Atlas 5 421 lifted off at 8:31 pm EDT Friday (0031 GMT Saturday) from Cape Canaveral and placed the WGS 2 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about a half hour later. The launch had been scheduled for last month but was delayed by a leaking valve in the rocket's Centaur upper stage that had to be replaced. WGS 2 is the second in the military's series of Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft designed to greatly increase the military's communications capacity at Ka- and X-band frequencies. The satellite, built by Boeing, will operate at around 60 degrees east in GEO, serving the Middle East and Central Asia.
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the second in a new series of military communications satellites Friday night. The Atlas 5 421 lifted off at 8:31 pm EDT Friday (0031 GMT Saturday) from Cape Canaveral and placed the WGS 2 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit about a half hour later. The launch had been scheduled for last month but was delayed by a leaking valve in the rocket's Centaur upper stage that had to be replaced. WGS 2 is the second in the military's series of Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft designed to greatly increase the military's communications capacity at Ka- and X-band frequencies. The satellite, built by Boeing, will operate at around 60 degrees east in GEO, serving the Middle East and Central Asia.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
California commission votes against increase in SpaceX Vandenberg launches
Posted: Sun, Aug 17 11:32 AM ET (1532 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, August 20
SpaceX says states should dump fiber plans, give all grant money to Starlink
Ars Technica — 7:01 am ET (1101 GMT) Alaska Airlines selects Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, to launch new era of connectivity
PR Newswire — 6:59 am ET (1059 GMT) Space Force stands up third ‘system delta’ acquisition unit, plans to activate five more in 2025
Defensescoop — 6:59 am ET (1059 GMT) Space Force Unveils New Dress and Appearance Policy as It Preps for Fresh Uniforms
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) Space Force Demonstrates New Protected Tactical Waveform
Aviation Week — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) |
