Atlas V To Launch Wideband Gapfiller As ILS' 1st EELV Mission

SPACEWAR

The first Atlas 5 shows the power of Lockheed Martin's own evolved expendable

Mclean - Feb 24, 2003
International Launch Services (ILS) will launch a U.S. Air Force communications satellite on an Atlas V rocket as its first government mission under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.

The mission is the launch of Wideband Gapfiller Satellite #2 (WGS-2), scheduled for no earlier than December 2004 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. This is the first of seven Atlas V launches awarded to ILS by the Air Force under the EELV program.

The Air Force authorized ILS this month to begin work to integrate the Atlas V vehicle with the spacecraft.

The Atlas V is produced by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., (NYSE:LMT) the latest generation in a long line of reliable rockets.

It was developed both to meet Air Force EELV requirements and for ILS commercial missions. Atlas V's highly successful first flight was last Aug. 21 with a commercial payload. The Atlas family of II, III and V series rockets boasts a record of 63 consecutive successful launches.

"I'm pleased to entrust this important national security spacecraft to the Atlas V," said Col. Sue Mashiko, head of the EELV program office at the USAF Space & Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles. "The perfect initial flight of Atlas V last summer, coupled with the Atlas family's incredible record of 63 consecutive successful launches, give us confidence that this satellite will be launched on time."

"The Air Force was at our side during Atlas V development," said ILS President Mark Albrecht, "and was side-by-side with our commercial customer at the first launch. We look forward to launching WGS-2 as the first dedicated Air Force mission on Atlas V."

The Wideband Gapfiller Satellites are designed to augment defense communications services currently provided by the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) and the Global Broadcasting Service (GBS), as well as provide a new high-capacity two-way Ka-band service in support of our nation's deployed forces.
The Atlas V family is the most powerful in the Atlas line, designed to lift payloads up to nearly 8700 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The Atlas V incorporates state-of-the-art designs, materials and processes. To support Atlas V missions, Lockheed Martin built a state-of-the-art launch complex at Cape Canaveral.

The new site introduces the "clean pad" concept to U.S. launch capabilities for the first time, and consolidates the support operations into two facilities: the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC) and the Vertical Integration Facility. The clean pad concept allows the Atlas V vehicle to be assembled, tested and mated with the encapsulated spacecraft away from the pad, thus allowing more flexibility in meeting customer needs.

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. in the United States and Russian companies Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia. ILS offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along with products with the highest reliability in the industry.

ILS' Atlas rockets and their Centaur upper stages are built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. - Space & Strategic Missiles, at facilities in Denver, Colo.; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, Calif.

ROCKET SCIENCE

Atlas V Roars Into Orbit On Maiden Flight With A HotBird

Cape Canaveral - Aug 21, 2002
The first Atlas V launch vehicle scored a triumph for builder Lockheed Martin Corp. and launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) today, placing its satellite payload into orbit with a flawless flight.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.