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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 13
A new ‘Boost!’ for space transportation companies
ESA — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) Elon Musk Is Out to Rule Space. Can Anyone Stop Him?
Wired — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) AST SpaceMobile ‘Optimistic’ About New Glenn Pad Return
Aviation Week — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Confirms Target for 45 BlueBirds This Year, Despite Blue Origin Launch Failure
ViaSatellite — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) ULA to prep future Vulcan launch for Amazon despite rocket investigation
Orlando Sentinel — 6:06 am ET (1006 GMT) |
