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“Wayne is a pleasure to work with and is a true expert on Canada’s space program, with unique insight into military and civilian strategies, programs, and downstream applications.  For three years in a row, Wayne has provided useful information and business intelligence as he reviewed Futron’s Space Competitiveness Index.  I look forward to the opportunity to work with Wayne again.” 

~Jay Gullish, Business Development Manager, Futron Corporation

SATCOM - WGS

SENSOR INFO

Launch Dates

WGS-1/USA 195: Oct 10, 2007

WGS-2/USA 204: Apr 4 ,2009

WGS-3/USA 211: Dec 6, 2009

WGS-4, 5, 6: 2011, 2012, 2013

Launch Site

Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Florida, USA

Launch Vehicle

Atlas V and Delta IV

Weight

~3447 kg

Type

Military Communications

Data Rate

2.1 to 3.6 Gb per second

Platform

Boeing 702

Expected Lifetime

14 years

Three geostationary satellites operating over the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic regions comprise Block I of the WGS program. Block II will consist of three more satellites, which will be constructed to meet evolving SATCOM bandwidth requirements and add a radio frequency bypass capability. 

The system will operate within 500 MHz of X-band and 1 GHz of Ka-band spectrum and be capable of filtering and routing 4.875 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth. The uplink bandwidth is divided into approximately 1900 independently routable 2.6 MHz subchannels, enabling connectivity from any uplink coverage area to any downlink coverage area.

WGS satellites employ a xenon-ion propulsion system, triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells, and deployable radiators with flexible heat pipes.

 

References:

http://www.boeing.com

http://www.aerospace-technology.com

http://www.afspc.af.mil/library/factsheets/fa ctsheet.asp?id=5582