USA-243, also known as WGS-5, is a United States military

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. C ...

. It was the fifth satellite to be launched as part of the Wideband Global SATCOM program, and the second Block II satellite.

Overview

The WGS system is a constellation of military communications satellites that use cost-effective methods and technological advances in the communications satellite industry. The WGS system is composed of three principal segments: Space Segment (satellites), Control Segment (operators), and Terminal Segment (users). Each WGS satellite provides service in multiple frequency bands, with the ability to cross-band between the two frequencies on board the satellite. WGS augments other satellites. In early 2001, a satellite communications industry team led by Boeing Satellite Systems was selected to develop the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system as a successor to the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) series of communications satellites. It is intended to support the U.S. Armed forces with greater capabilities than those provided by other systems. In March 2007, the acronym WGS was changed to Wideband Global SATCOM. As the backbone of the U.S. military's global satellite communications, Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite (WGS) system provides flexible, high-capacity communications for the U.S. Military through the procurement and operation of the satellite constellation and the associated control systems. WGS provides flexible, high data rate and long haul communications for the Department of Defense (DOD), governmental organizations, and international partners.

Satellite description

Constructed by Boeing Satellite Systems, WGS-5 is based on the BSS-702HP

satellite bus A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held. Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus-d ...

. It has a mass of , and a design life of fourteen years. Its two

solar panels A solar cell panel, solar electric panel, photo-voltaic (PV) module, PV panel or solar panel is an assembly of photovoltaic solar cells mounted in a (usually rectangular) frame, and a neatly organised collection of PV panels is called a phot ...

generate upwards of 11 kW of power. The satellite is equipped with X-band and Ka-band

transponders In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''. In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a flight trans ...

. A R-4D bi-propellant

rocket motor A rocket engine uses stored rocket propellants as the reaction mass for forming a high-speed propulsive jet of fluid, usually high-temperature gas. Rocket engines are reaction engines, producing thrust by ejecting mass rearward, in accordance ...

and four XIPS-25 ion engines provide propulsion for maneuvering.

Launch

WGS-5 was launched by the

United Launch Alliance United Launch Alliance (ULA), legally United Launch Alliance, LLC, is an American spacecraft launch service provider that manufactures and operates a number of rocket vehicles that are capable of launching spacecraft into orbits around Earth, a ...

, through the use of a Delta IV M+ (5,4)

launch vehicle A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pad, launch pads, supported by a missile launch contro ...

, named Delta 362, that placed it into a supersynchronous transfer orbit. From here, the satellite was maneuvered into

geostationary orbit A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit in altitud ...

. It was launched from the Space Launch Complex (SLC-37B) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) at 00:27 UTC on 25 May 2013. A launch attempt 24 hours before was aborted due to a problem with a helium pressurization line. The launch was successful.

References

{{Orbital launches in 2013 Spacecraft launched in 2013 USA satellites Wideband Global SATCOM Communications satellites in geostationary orbit