VIDEO: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Set To Launch From Cape Canaveral Saturday Night

launch window opens at 7:44 p.m. ET

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – The ULA Delta IV rocket carrying the WGS-9 satellite for the U.S. Air Force is scheduled for March 18.

The Delta IV is set to lift off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The March 18 launch window is 7:44-8:59 p.m. EDT.

Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) rocket will launch the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) mission for the U.S. Air Force.

Date/Site/Launch Time: Saturday, March 18, 2017, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch window is 7:44-8:59 p.m. EDT.

Rocket fans! The ULA #DeltaIV #WGS9 mission for the @usairforce is scheduled for March 18. Launch window is 7:44-8:59 p.m. EDT. pic.twitter.com/dDB6jFjTah

— ULA (@ulalaunch) March 16, 2017

Launch Notes: WGS-9 will mark the seventh flight of the Delta IV in the Medium + (5,4)configuration; all launches in this configuration have delivered WGS missions to orbit. This mission also will be the 35th launch of the Delta IV since its inaugural launch in 2002.

Mission Description: WGS satellites are important elements of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to our troops in the field. WGS has 19 independent coverage areas, 18 of which can be positioned throughout its field-of-view. This includes eight steerable/shapeable X-band beams formed by separate transmit/receive phased arrays; 10 Ka-band beams served by independently steerable diplexed antennas; and one transmit/receive X-band Earth-coverage beam.

WGS can tailor coverage areas and connect X-band and Ka-band users anywhere within its field-of-view. The X-band phased array antenna enables anti-jam functionality without sacrificing performance.

CLICK HERE FOR NASA NAS SPACE NEWS

Similar Stories