e: The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., reported Jan. 21 that the second Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft was delivered last week to Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and then on to the Astrotech Space Facility in Titusville, Fla., for processing in preparation for its launch March 9. The first operational WGS began service in April 2008. “The WGS-1 satellite capabilities substantially exceeded the warfighter’s expectations,” according to SMC. WGS-2 and WGS-3, also slated for launch this year, will complete the Block 1 version of the satellites. Boeing is under contract to build three more WGS spacecraft in Block 2, with launches beginning in 2011. Australia has come on board the program, providing funding for WGS-6 in exchange for a portion of the WGS communications throughput. (Los Angeles report)
Due to the prolonged delay in deliveries of the Tech Refresh 3 version of the F-35 fighter, Denmark is pulling six of its TR-2-configured F-35 jets stationed in the U.S. back to home base in order to consolidate aircraft and get better training for its pilots and maintainers, the Danish…