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 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 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."

Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links ILS SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Military Space News at SpaceWar.com Memory Foam Mattress Review SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News SPACEWAR Space Group To Activate New Unit Colorado Springs CO (SPX) Jan 6, 2006 Air Force Reserve Command's 310th Space Group will travel deeper into the space program when it activates a new unit Jan. 7. Headquarters Reserve National Security Space Institute will be a Reserve associate unit to the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. The institute is the Department of Defense's focal point for providing education about space power in joint warfighting.