USA-263

USA-263, or Wideband Global SATCOM 7 (WGS-7) is a United States military communications satellite operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Wideband Global SATCOM programme. Launched in 2015, it was the seventh WGS satellite to reach orbit. It is stationed at a longitude of 135° West, in geostationary orbit. WGS-7 was procured by the United States Air Force.[2]

USA-263
Artist's impression of a WGS-7 satellite in orbit
NamesWGS-7
WGS SV-7
Wideband Global SATCOM-7
Mission typeMilitary communications
OperatorUnited States Air Force / United States Space Force
COSPAR ID2015-036A
SATCAT no.40746
Websitehttps://www.spaceforce.mil/
Mission duration14 years (planned)
8 years, 3 months and 1 day (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftWGS-7
Spacecraft typeWGS Block II
BusBSS-702HP
ManufacturerBoeing Satellite Systems
Launch mass5,987 kg (13,199 lb)
Dry mass3,000 kg (6,600 lb)
Power11 kW
Start of mission
Launch date24 July 2015, 00:07 UTC[1]
RocketDelta IV M+ (5,4) (s/n D372)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-37B
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Transponders
BandX-band and Ka-band
Frequency7.2 / 8.4 GHz (X-band)
30 / 20 GHz (Ka-band)
 

Overview

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 unprecedented ability to cross-band between the two frequencies on board the satellite. WGS augments other satellites.[3]

In early 2001, a satellite communications industry team led by Boeing Satellite Systems was selected to develop the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system as successors to the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) series of communications satellites. This satellite communications system is intended to support the warfighter with newer and far greater capabilities than provided by current systems. In March 2007, the acronym WGS was changed to Wideband Global SATCOM.[4]

Just one WGS satellite provides more SATCOM capacity than the entire legacy Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellation.[3]

WGS provides worldwide communications for the Department of Defense (DOD), governmental organizations and international partners.[3]

Satellite description

The order for long lead items for WGS-7 was placed in August 2010. The final contract for this satellite was awarded in September 2011, together with long lead items for WGS-8 and an option for WGS-9. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, WGS-7 is based on the BSS-702HP satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of 5,987 kg (13,199 lb), and was expected to operate for fourteen years. The spacecraft is equipped with two solar panels to generate power for its communications payload, which consists of cross-band X-band and Ka-band transponders. Propulsion is provided by an R-4D-15 apogee motor, with four XIPS-25 ion engines for stationkeeping.[4]

Launch

WGS-7 was launched by United Launch Alliance (ULA), who placed it into orbit using a Delta IV M+ (5,4) launch vehicle, flight number D372. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), with liftoff at 00:07 UTC on 24 July 2015.[1] The launch was successful, placing the WGS-7 into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), from which the spacecraft raised itself into geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system. The satellite was designated USA-263 under the U.S. military's designation system, and received the International Designator 2015-036A and Satellite Catalog Number 40746.[1][2][5]

References
  1. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. "ULA Delta IV successfully lofts WGS-7". NASASpaceFlight.com. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. "Fact Sheets: Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite". United States Space Force. October 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. "WGS 4, 5, 6, 7". Gunter's Space Page. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. "Delta 4 Launches 7th WGS satellite". SpaceNews. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.