Ninth WGS satellite launched

The ninth Wideband Global SATCOM, or WGS, was launched into orbit March 18.

WGS-9 was launched at 8:18 p.m. EDT aboard a Delta IV rocket, consisting of a common core booster and four solid rocket motors, according to a United Launch Alliance news release.

"WGS-9, the third Block II Follow-on satellite, supports communications links in the X-band and Ka-band spectra," said United Launch Alliance. "The WGS-9 satellite will be able filter and downlink up to 8.088 GHz of bandwidth. WGS satellites are an important element of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capability to our troops in the field."

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