(Update: March 4, 2 p.m. EST): The launch date for a United Launch Alliance Delta IV carrying the WGS-9 satellite for the U.S. Air Force is
no earlier than March 14. The team is actively working to
resolve a Delta IV first stage booster issue discovered during standard prelaunch inspections. This additional time will allow the ULA team to ensure all systems are operating nominally prior to launch. A new launch date will be released once it is established. The Delta IV will lift off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) rocket will launch the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) mission for the U.S. Air Force.
Date/Site/Launch Time:
No earlier than Tuesday, March 14, 2017, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Live Broadcast:
http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx
Launch Notes: WGS-9 will mark the seventh flight of the Delta IV in the Medium + (5,4)configuration; all launches in this configuration have delivered WGS missions to orbit. This mission also will be the 35th launch of the Delta IV since its inaugural launch in 2002.
Mission Description: WGS satellites are important elements of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to our troops in the field. WGS has 19 independent coverage areas, 18 of which can be positioned throughout its field-of-view. This includes eight steerable/shapeable X-band beams formed by separate transmit/receive phased arrays; 10 Ka-band beams served by independently steerable diplexed antennas; and one transmit/receive X-band Earth-coverage beam. WGS can tailor coverage areas and connect X-band and Ka-band users anywhere within its field-of-view. The X-band phased array antenna enables anti-jam functionality without sacrificing performance.
