WGS-9 – Delta IV-M+(5,4) – Канаверал SLC-37B – 19.03.2017 – 00:18 UTC

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03/19/2017 03:55
T+plus 37 minutes. The Delta 4 rocket has successfully reached its targeted super-synchronous transfer orbit, ULA says.

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03/19/2017 03:57
T+plus 39 minutes. The rocket is coasting in orbit and will soon deploy the next Wideband Global SATCOM, continuing the modernization effort for the U.S. military's satellite communications network in space. This particular spacecraft, WGS 9, was purchased by Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand in a collaborative deal that gives the allies access to global bandwidth from any WGS satellite.

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03/19/2017 03:57
T+plus 40 minutes. About two minutes until separation.

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Есть отделение КА!

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03/19/2017 03:59  WGS 9 DEPLOYED!
T+plus 41 minutes, 45 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Wideband Global SATCOM 9 military communications satellite has been deployed into orbit from the Delta 4 rocket's upper stage, completing tonight's launch!

Liftoff occurred at 8:18 p.m. EDT (0018 GMT) and the flight appeared nominal.
The WGS 9 spacecraft will spend the next three months being maneuvered into a circular geosynchronous orbit by controllers at Boeing's satellite facility in El Segundo, California. The orbit raising activities will use both the conventional propellant engines as well as ion propulsion thrusters.
Boeing will oversee the craft's solar array and antenna deployments, plus complete an initial round of testing before WGS 9 is handed over to the Air Force.

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Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live 2 мин. назад
 
SEPARATION! Another powerful bird arrives in orbit to join the WGS constellation, building the backbone of U.S. military comms. #WGS9
 

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Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 3 мин. назад
 
WGS 9 has separated from the Delta 2nd stage. In 30 min the Delta will adjust its orbit to put its perigee under the Pacific in 11 hrs time

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AF Space Command‏ @AFSpace 8 мин. назад
 
#WGS9 is in orbit. MIssion success. Congrats, team! @45thSpaceWing @BoeingDefense @ulalaunch @AF_SMC

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http://www.patrick.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1123151/45th-space-wing-supports-successful-delta-iv-wgs-9-launch

45th Space Wing supports successful Delta IV WGS-9 launch
 By 45th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published March 18, 2017

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The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing supported United Launch Alliance's successful launch of the WGS-9 spacecraft aboard a ULA Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at 8:18 p.m. ET March 18, 2017, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The Air Force has been breaking barriers since 1947 and the successful WGS-9 launch marks an important occasion for the Wideband constellation as it is a major milestone in a 20-year multilateral partnership. (Courtesy photo/ULA)
 
 

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --
The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing supported United Launch Alliance's successful launch of the WGS-9 spacecraft aboard a ULA Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 here March 18, 2017, at 8:18 p.m. ET.

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The Air Force has been breaking barriers since 1947 and the successful WGS-9 launch marks an important occasion for the Wideband constellation as it is a major milestone in a 20-year multilateral partnership.
 
In January 2012, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, agreeing to fund the procurement of the ninth WGS satellite. The U.S. is responsible for funding the launch, operation and sustainment of WGS-9. International partners will receive a proportional share of the bandwidth provided by the WGS constellation based on financial contribution.
 
The WGS constellation is the highest-capacity military communications system in the U.S. Department of Defense arsenal. WGS supports a wide variety of missions for Combatant Commanders around the world to perform missions, from search and rescue efforts to military operations.  Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center is the Air Force's center for acquiring and developing military space systems.
The addition of WGS-9 to the constellation will increase speed, reliability, and effectiveness for the warfighter, which enables the U.S. and international partners to more efficiently coordinate on missions in the air, on land and by sea.
 
According to Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander and mission Launch Decision Authority, the fourth major launch operation on the Eastern Range this year, and second successful launch in just two and a half days, culminates many long hours and hard work by the entire mission team.
 
"Thanks to the amazing commitment, focus on the mission, and teamwork the men and women of the 45th Space Wing share with our mission partners at SMC and ULA, we successfully launched the next satellite in the WGS constellation," he said. "This mission demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to deliver secure and reliable satellite communications around the globe to U.S. forces and our allies.  It also once again showcases why the 45th Space Wing is the 'World's Premiere Gateway to Space.'"

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[Зловредный]

tnt22, я хочу поблагодарить за ваши труды по оперативному информированию 

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Зловредный, Благодарствую!

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Итак, уже 6:1. Не в пользу России. Когда, наконец, люди очнутся и поймут, что происходит со страной?

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http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-deltaiv-launches-wgs9.aspx

United Launch Alliance Commemorates U.S. Air Force 70th Anniversary with Successful Launch of WGS-9 Mission
Delta IV WGS-9 Mission Overview

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (March 18, 2017) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket carrying the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) satellite for the United States Air Force lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37 on March 18 at 8:18 p.m. EDT.

"This launch commemorates the 70th anniversary of the USAF." said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. "We are absolutely honored to play a role in this important milestone, while safely delivering WGS-9 to orbit."

This mission was launched aboard a Delta IV Medium+ (5, 4) configuration Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) powered by one common booster core and four solid rocket motors built by Orbital ATK. The common booster core was powered by an RS-68A liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine producing 705,250 pounds of thrust at sea level. A single RL10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine powered the second stage. The booster and upper stage engines are both built by Aerojet Rocketdyne. ULA constructed the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) launch vehicle in Decatur, Alabama.

This is ULA's 3rd launch in 2017 and the 118th successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

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"Thank you to the women and men of United Launch Alliance and all of our teammates who have worked tirelessly together to ensure today's mission success," said Maginnis. "The team's number one priority was safely and reliably delivering one of our nation's most critical satellites."

WGS-9, the third Block II Follow-on satellite, supports communications links in the X-band and Ka-band spectra. The WGS-9 satellite will be able filter and downlink up to 8.088 GHz of bandwidth. WGS satellites are an important element of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capability to our troops in the field.

The EELV program was established by the U.S. Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the heritage launch systems.

With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 115 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

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Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow 1 мин назад
 
RECAP: Internationally-backed #WGS9 military satellite successfully launched atop Delta 4 rocket https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/internationally-backed-military-satellite-successfully-launched-atop-delta-4-rocket/ ... (ULA pic)
 

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/19/internationally-backed-military-satellite-successfully-launched-atop-delta-4-rocket/

Internationally-backed military satellite successfully launched atop Delta 4 rocket
 March 19, 2017     Justin Ray

 CAPE CANAVERAL — With an international flair for collaboration, a military communications satellite jointly purchased by five allies was rocketed in space Saturday to further expand the U.S.-operated network that serves battlefield forces anywhere on Earth.

The Wideband Global SATCOM satellite No. 9, which will act like an information router in space, was successfully propelled into orbit by a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket fr om Cape Canaveral.

The 8:18 p.m. EDT (0018 GMT) liftoff occurred fr om Complex 37 following an afternoon loading of 170,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant into the two-stage rocket.

Three swing arms fr om the launch tower pulled away as the 217-foot-tall Delta roared skyward with a 2-to-1 thrust-to-weight ratio.

Less than 42 minutes later over the Indian Ocean. the $424 million payload was deployed into a super-synchronous transfer orbit as planned.

"Successfully putting our most critical satellites in orbit, at the right spot, time and time again is only made possible through a tremendously effective partnership with our launch vehicle provider United Launch Alliance," said Col. Shane Clark, the Air Force's mission director for the WGS 9 launch and EELV Generation operations division chief at the Space and Missile Systems Center.

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Official launch portrait. Credit: United Launch Alliance

It marked the 108th successful launch in a row for the Delta program since 1999, the 361st success overall since 1960 and the 35th for a Delta 4.

United Launch Alliance also extended its mission record to 118 and completed its 47th mission for the Air Force in the past 123 months.

WGS 9 will spend the next three months using its conventional and xenon-ion propulsion systems to reach a circular geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator and slide into a testing slot. It will enter service later this year for a yet-undisclosed coverage zone.

This new satellite is unique because Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand paid for construction of WGS 9 in a collaborative effort to join the U.S. military's global communications network.

Each nation receives bandwidth allocations via any of the WGS satellites in the worldwide constellation in proportions equal to their investment in WGS 9.

The WGS 9 deal allows the U.S. to bolster its communications infrastructure with an additional satellite while the allies get access to the anytime, anywhere connectivity that WGS provides around the globe.

Brigadier-General Blaise Frawley, director general for space, Royal Canadian Air Force: "Military operations are increasingly dependent on capabilities based in space and the Canadian Armed Forces recognizes this fact. The WGS 9 will further enhance a reliable Satcom network, and ensure our forces at home and abroad can communicate effectively to enable success on operations."

Navy Capt. Kim Meier, director of air force systems at the Danish Acquisition and Logistics Organization: "With the successful launch of the ninth WGS satellite we have reached an important milestone in the international MILSATCOM partnership. The WGS satellites are giving our warfighters quick and reliable access to information which is essential to the success of any military operation."

Navy Commodore Ludger Brummelaar, projects director of the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation: "The launch of WGS 9 symbolizes the successful partnership in military satellite communication. The cooperation is not only a success in the space segment, but also on the ground, wh ere the participating nations share their anchor stations and other SATCOM resources. WGS enables smaller countries, as the Netherlands, to have access to reliable global satellite communication. It is a prime example of international military cooperation."

Etienne Schneider, deputy prime minister of Luxembourg: "As an established satellite nation, Luxembourg is proud to participate in the WGS program. In the current geopolitical context, access to satellite capacity is essential for most military endeavors. Luxembourg can thus make a concrete contribution to security in the context of its NATO commitments."

Lt. Col. James Dryburgh, New Zealand deputy director of C4 Operations: "WGS has provided the cornerstone of the New Zealand Defence Force's Satellite communications capability since the purchase of our first ground terminals following our entrance into the WGS partnership. It has provided us with solid and reliable communications bearer connectivity from the first deployment and the cooperation from the WGS support team and the partner nations has been outstanding."

 
Delta 4 on the pad Saturday afternoon awaiting the WGS9 launch. Photos by Credit: Walter Scriptunas II / Scriptunas Images
 
"The WGS constellation is the highest-capacity military communications system in the U.S. Department of Defense arsenal," said Robert Tarleton, director of the Air Force's Military Satellite Communications Systems at the Space and Missile Systems Center.

"WGS really supports the tactical warfighter and our international partners around the world, whether on land, in the air or at sea. It has the Global Broadcast capability that provides the delivery of classified and unclassified data and video products for mission support and full mission video (from) our UAVs."

The WGS constellation is the modernized follow-on to the Defense Satellite Communications System that dates back to 1966 and is the Air Force's longest-running communications network with launches through 2003.

"We still have four DSCS that we are still using. They continue to be part of our overall military constellation that we can access," said Tarleton.

"The transformation from DSCS to WGS is a lot more bandwidth as well as the addition of military Ka communications and crossbanding on the satellite between X- and Ka-bands. That allows the warfighter to seamlessly talk between their terminal types."

One final WGS satellite — No. 10 — is built and awaiting pre-launch testing ahead of a late 2018 deployment aboard another Delta 4 rocket.

"We will be moving forward to (WGS) 10 to launch late next year. And yes, as far as the WGS program, that is the last satellite in the program," said Tarleton.

"There were some interest for a while with several nations to try to fund a WGS 11 and that just didn't materialize, frankly. We will not be buying another WGS, we are past the point wh ere we could buy it with any efficient cost since the production line is basically shut down."

 
An artist's concept of WGS in orbit. Credit: Boeing

But the longer-term future for U.S. wideband communications services is uncertain while the Pentagon studies its options.

"What we are looking at for the follow-on to WGS is being worked within the Department of Defense now in the Analysis of Alternatives as to what's the best way to meet our wideband satcom requirements in the future — whether it's more, big satellites, purpose-built just for military use, whether it's using more commercial satellites or leasing, and what's the combination. That effort is in work right now. That will steer what we buy (and) wh ere we go for meeting our wideband needs," said Tarleton.

"To build a new system, we need to get started within the next couple of years because we are targeting the late 2020s — 2028-2029 — to have the next system, whatever that may be, ready to take the place of WGS.

"If we are working to purchase bits from commercial services, which is something we are really looking at as the commercial industry gets more and more capable and actually, probably, moves moves faster than we can within the Department of Defense as far as enhancing their capabilities, as they become more protected in comms against interference or jamming, those are the things we are looking at as part of the trade-off.


"If we had to go buy another WGS — if we followed that path, which I don't expect — we would need to do that within the next couple of years. If we can build on commercial and utilize their systems that tend to be put in place and built in three to four years, we are not as rushed."

 
This was the ninth WGS launch. Credit: Air Force logos; Spaceflight Now graphic

The first 7 satellites in the WGS series are optional. The eighth craft, launched last December, reached its test slot in geostationary orbit a week ago.

"With WGS 8 and 9, we expect to have both in operational use later this year," said Tarleton.

WGS 1 was launched in October 2007 to cover the vast U.S. Pacific Command that stretches from the U.S. western coast all the way to Southeast Asia.

WGS 2 satellite followed with an April 2009 launch to serve U.S. Central Command and the forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of Southwest Asia.

WGS 3 went up in December 2009 to cover U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, plus lend additional support over the Middle East.

WGS 4 inaugurated the upgraded Block 2 series for improved communications with unmanned aerial drones when it was launched in January 2012 to cover the Middle East and Southeast Asia for use by U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command.

WGS 5 extended the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation to the Americas for a host of users following launch in May 2013. It gives the CONUS coverage to U.S. Northern Command, Southern Command, Transportation Command, Strategic Command, the Missile Defense Agency and other U.S. and western hemisphere-based users.

WGS 6 was launched in August 2013 and serves as Australia's contribution to the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation. It was built and launched via Australian funding in exchange for its military getting a percentage of communications services through the global constellation. The craft is parked over the eastern Pacific for coverage of the Americas.

WGS 7 was launched in July 2015 to further fortify the military's "anytime, anywhere" communications infrastructure, adding to the global WGS system from its position above the western Pacific with a coverage area spanning the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia.

WGS 8 reached its orbital checkout position just last week following a successful launch in December. It features the first Wideband Digital Channelizer that nearly doubles its capacity compared to the previous satellites in the WGS series.

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Spaceflight101‏ @Spaceflight101 16 мин. назад
 
Delta IV thunders into the Night with Internationally-funded Military ComSat - http://spaceflight101.com/delta-iv-wgs-9/delta-iv-wgs-9-launch-success/ ... #WGS9
 
 
 
 

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http://tass.ru/kosmos/4107423

Американская ULA запустила ракету со спутником связи военного назначения
 
 Космос   19 марта, 4:09 UTC+3
 
Спутник WGS-9 является элементом новой системы коммуникационных спутников, обеспечивающих связью войска США в полевых условиях
 
 
 © AP Photo/John Raoux
 
 НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 19 марта. /Корр. ТАСС Алексей Качалин/. Американская компания United Launch Alliance (ULA) осуществила в субботу запуск с базы ВВС США на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида) ракеты-носителя Delta IV. Она вывела в космос спутник WGS-9 военного назначения.

"Траектория полета аппарата точна. Ракетный двигатель RL-10 функционирует по-чемпионски", - сообщила ULA.

Компания уточнила, что это был 35-й по счету запуск ракеты Delta IV. Первый состоялся в 2002 году. WGS-9 описывается как "важный элемент новой мощной системы коммуникационных спутников, обеспечивающих связью американские войска в полевых условиях".

ULA - совместное предприятие американских корпораций Boeing и Lockheed Martin. Delta IV имеет три двигателя и способна доставлять на орбиту полезный груз массой примерно до 29 тонн.

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Boeing Defense‏Подлинная учетная запись @BoeingDefense 24 сек назад
 
#Boeing-built #WGS9 satellite successfully launched; has sent back its first signals. NEWS RELEASE:http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2017-03-18-Ninth-Boeing-built-Wideband-Global-SATCOM-Satellite-to-Expand-Military-Communications-Capabilities-for-U-S-Allies ...

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2017-03-18-Ninth-Boeing-built-Wideband-Global-SATCOM-Satellite-to-Expand-Military-Communications-Capabilities-for-U-S-Allies

Ninth Boeing-Built Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite to Expand Military Communications Capabilities for U.S., Allies

The communications satellite will increase interoperability among the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 18, 2017 – Boeing's [NYSE: BA] ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite launched into orbit today and will provide the United States and six allied nations with increased communications capabilities to prevent, protect against and respond to attacks.

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The WGS-9 satellite was funded through an agreement between the United States and Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and will also serve Australia (which funded the WGS-6 satellite). Each partner country gains access to the capabilities provided by the full WGS system, which include flexible and secure communication transmissions in the X- and Ka-band frequencies.

"This unique international collaboration increases military interoperability and expands affordable high-data-rate communications for U.S. and allied partners around the globe," said Rico Attanasio, executive director, Boeing Department of Defense/Civil Satellite Programs. "WGS-9 is among the most capable military communication satellites on orbit today."

WGS-9 launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket. Boeing is on contract for 10 WGS satellites, the last of which is tentatively scheduled for launch in 2018.

The eighth, ninth and tenth WGS satellites include upgraded digital channelizers that nearly double the available bandwidth of earlier satellites in the series.

A Boeing video about WGS's anti-jam capabilities is available at www.boeing.com/features/2016/11/innovation-wgs-11-16.page.

For more information on Defense, Space & Security, visit www.boeing.com. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
 

# # #

Contact:

Matthew Barnett
 Network & Space Systems
 Office: +1 310-335-6747
 Mobile: +1 310-341-6818
 matthew.barnett2@boeing.com

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Launch of Delta IV Rocket Carrying WGS-9 US Air Force Satellite

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LIVE Launch Broadcast: Delta IV WGS-9

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Streamed live: Delta IV rocket launch from Cape Canaveral  by RT

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