US Air Force Ready To Launch First Upgraded WGS-8 Satellite

The U.S. Air Force is ready to launch its first upgraded Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite on Dec. 7. The announcement was made by Air Force officials during a press call last week.

First launched in 2007, this is the eight WGS satellite in the military's communication. Additionally, the latest upgrade is also the first one to carry an upgrade that will allow it to carry more traffic than earlier WGS satellites. The team behind the upgraded WGS satellite stated that they are taking time to ensure all the necessary precautions. "Just like each human being is a unique individual, each rocket is unique as well," Walter Lauderdale added, the WGS-8 mission director at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Space News reported.

The WGS-8 will be launched atop a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket, and at the moment it is already encapsulated inside its fairing. The launch will take place from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Dec. 7 between 6:53 p.m. and 7:42 p.m. EST.

The features of the upgraded satellite include multicast, broadcast and point to point connections anywhere around the globe at any time. The satellite that costs an estimated $425 million also has numerous spot beams that will help in cutting through jamming attempts. It also has 45 percent more bandwidth than the earlier WGS satellite models.

"We see the information age has resulted in an explosion of communication needs for everybody," said Rico Attanasio, the director of Boeing MILSATCOM programs, according to Space.com. "For our armed forces, wideband communications are necessary for the people that defend the United States."

Two more WGS satellites are in the pipeline for launching, after which the constellation total will be brought up to 10 by 2019. According to Space.com website, each of the upcoming satellites is designed to have a service lifespan of 14 years.