The third Boeing Wideband Global Satcom (WGS-3) spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force's military communications network was shipped last week to Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., in anticipation of a Nov. 18 launch on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV. When placed in a geostationary orbit over the Atlantic Ocean, WGS-3 will complete USAF's initial constellation and bring with it nearly global satellite coverage. Boeing has been tasked to build three WG spacecraft, all of which are under development at its El Segundo, Calif., factory. WGS-4 is expected to emerge from component build and payload integration by year-end and be launched in the summer of 2011. The remaining two are due for launch by the end of 2012.
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