USA-243
USA-243, also known as WGS-5, is an United States military communications satellite. It was the fifth satellite to be launched as part of the Wideband Global SATCOM program, and the second Block II satellite. Overview. The WGS system is a constellation of highly capable military communications satellites that leverage cost-effective methods and technological advances in the communications satellite industry. The WGS system is composed of three principal segments: Space Segment (satellites), Control Segment (operators) and Terminal Segment (users). Each WGS satellite provides service in multiple frequency bands, with the unprecedented ability to cross-band between the two frequencies  onboard the satellite. WGS augments other satellites. In early 2001, a satellite communications industry team led by Boeing Satellite Systems was selected to develop the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system as successors to the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) series of communications satellites. This satellite communications system is intended to support the warfighter with newer and far greater capabilities than provided by current systems. In March 2007, the acronym WGS was changed to Wideband Global SATCOM. Just one WGS satellite provides more SATCOM capacity than the entire legacy Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellation. As the backbone of the U.S.  military's global satellite communications, Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite (WGS) system provides flexible, high-capacity communications for the Nation's warfighters through procurement and operation of the satellite constellation and the associated control systems. WGS provides worldwide flexible, high data rate and long haul communications for the Department of Defense (DOD), governmental organizations and international partners. Satellite description. Constructed by Boeing Satellite Systems, WGS-5 is based on the BSS-702HP satellite bus. It had a mass at liftoff of , and a design life of fourteen years. Its two solar panels generate upwards of 11 kW of power. The satellite is equipped  with X-band and Ka-band transponders. A R-4D bipropellant rocket motor and four XIPS-25 ion engines provide propulsion. Launch. WGS-5 was launched by United Launch Alliance. A Delta IV M+ (5,4) launch vehicle, Delta 362, was used to place it into a supersynchronous transfer orbit, from which the satellite was maneuvered into geostationary orbit. It was launched from Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) at 00:27 UTC on 25 May 2013. A launch attempt 24 hours before was cancelled because of a problem with a helium pressurization line. The launch was successful