Major MILSATCOM Event For WGS-1

The U.S. Air Force revealed USSTRATCOM has accepted command and control of its first Wideband Global SATCOM space vehicle, WGS-1. This important milestone reflects a decade of effort and cooperation between the Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and The Boeing Company. More importantly, this milestone initiates the transition of operational users from the current Defense Satellite Communications System to the DOD’s newest satellite communications system, WGS. One WGS satellite alone will provide more communication capacity than the entire DSCS constellation currently on orbit. After testing was completed, WGS-1 was relocated to its final operational location at 175° E. At the final operational location, the WGS payload configuration was optimized to support operations and, with the recommendations of HQ Air Force Space Command and SMDC/ARSTRAT, General Kevin P. Chilton, Commander, United States Strategic Command, accepted Combatant Command authority for WGS-1 and assumed responsibility of it from the MILSATCOM Systems Wing.

The assembly of each WGS satellite proceeds simultaneously with a staggered start to integration for successive vehicles and extensive subsystem-level testing. After completion of satellite integration, each system undergoes a battery of ground testing to include: Satellite Initial Functional Testing, Satellite Environmental Testing, and Satellite Final Functional Testing. After launch, transfer orbit operations, and placement at the test location of 122.8° W, Boeing conducts a comprehensive On-Orbit Testing. After the completion of all on-orbit testing and satisfactory verification of acceptance criteria, the MCSW assumes satellite control authority of each WGS satellite from Boeing. This series of events was concluded on January 18th for WGS-1 with the historic transfer of Satellite Control Authority from Boeing to MCSW.

From there, the 3rd Space Operations Squadron verified the ability of the Command and Control System – Consolidated to perform platform control of the WGS satellite and the 53rd Signal Battalion demonstrated the ability of the Global Satellite Configuration Control Element to perform payload control of the WGS satellite. SMDC/ARSTRAT led an extensive Payload Characterization Verification phase to fully characterize the capability of the WGS payload as well as the planning, management, control, and monitoring systems under various operational scenarios. When in the hands of the operational users, WGS will be the key element of a high-capacity satellite communications system designed to quickly disseminate large amounts of data to warfighters through two-way, point-to-point, multicast, and broadcast communications. The WGS system will be a multi-spacecraft constellation providing network-centric communication capabilities for U.S. military forces and allies around the world.