The Air Force is planning to launch its fifth Wideband Global Satcom satellite (WGS-5) today, according to United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is providing the launch vehicle.
A release from ULA said the 30-minute launch window will open at 8:27 p.m. EST. There is a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions.
The launch was delayed when an anomaly was discovered in the engine control unit during acceptance testing. The control unit has since been replaced (Defense Daily, May 21).
WGS is the Defense Department’s highest-capacity satellite communications system, according to prime contractor Boeing [BA]. Each WGS satellite can route 2.1 to 3.6 gigabits (Gbps) of data–providing more than 10 times the communications capacity of the predecessor Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III satellite (Defense Daily, May 13).
ULA is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin [LMT].