All Systems Go

Boeing received the first on-orbit signals from the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite last night, which indicates that the satellite is healthy and ready for operational testing, according to a Jan. 19 company press release.

The satellite was successfully launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, at 7:38 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 19, according to an Air Force statement. Controllers first confirmed contact with the satellite at 8:36 p.m. Eastern Time at a ground station in Dongara, Australia, according to the Boeing statement. Executives from Boeing's mission control center in El Segundo, CA, confirmed that the satellite is “functioning normally,” according to the company statement.

Boeing will conduct on-orbit testing over the next eight weeks to verify performance, according to the company statement.

Air Force officials also awarded Boeing a $377 million contract modification for starting work on the WGS-9 satellite on Jan. 12, according to a service statement. Boeing is the prime contractor for the WGS system. The satellite will provide more flexible execution of command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance while also supporting battle management objectives, according to Boeing.