Gallery
Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) satellite constellation providing broadcast, multicast, and point-to-point communications for military forces worldwide. Based on a Boeing 702HP spacecraft bus, WGS-9 is part of the “Block II” family of DoD satcom systems from geosynchronous orbit. WGS-9 was the ninth of a planned series of ten satellites that will make up this WGS constellation. The spacecraft was launched to orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) rocket on March 18, 2017 at 8:18 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 37B located in Florida. This version of the rocket utilizes a five-meter fairing as well as four Orbital ATK GEM 60 solid rocket motors affixed to the Delta IV’s first stage. Photos courtesy: Carleton Bailie, Mike Deep, Jason Rhian, Derek Richardson, Jared Haworth, Dawn Haworth, Michael Howard
