The Air Force and launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) on Saturday successfully launched the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) satellite, according to an Air Force statement.
Launch took place at 8:18 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on a Delta IV Medium+ (5, 4) configuration. Over the next few months, WGS-9 manufacturer Boeing [BA] will begin on-orbit testing of the satellite to verify performance and prepare the spacecraft for operational use.
WGS-9 is set to enter operations in October. With one more satellite in production, the WGS constellation is planned to have a total of 10 satellites on orbit by 2019. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing.