LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Air Force successfully launched the 10th Boeing-built Wideband Global SATCOM satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle for the U.S. from Space Launch Complex 37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida at 8:26 p.m. EDT, March 15.
This mission demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s continued commitment to deliver secure and reliable satellite communications around the globe to U.S. and Allied forces.
“Today’s launch is a momentous achievement for the joint warfighter as we launch the tenth WGS satellite,” said Tom Becht, acting director of Space and Missile Systems Center’s Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate. “This accomplishment is the result of the remarkable relationship with our partners at SMC’s Launch Enterprise Systems Directorate, the 45th Space Wing, 50th Space Wing, and industry and epitomizes the traits of our transformative SMC 2.0 initiative.”
“The tenacity and dedication to mission assurance ensures we continue to maintain a robust satellite constellation with modernized, more resilient MILSATCOM capabilities,” Becht continued. “Thanks to the astounding teamwork, commitment, and mission focus, we successfully launched the next satellite in the WGS satellite constellation.”
Over the next few months, Boeing will begin on-orbit testing of WGS-10 to verify performance and prepare the satellite for operational use. Ultimately, WGS-10 will be controlled by the U.S. Air Force’s 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. The WGS-10 satellite is scheduled to enter operations in October 2019.
Media representatives who would like to interview a subject matter expert or learn more about the WGS-10 launch should send an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil.