Boeing announced Tuesday that the Air Force has taken control of the third Wideband Global Satcom military communications satellite from the company after the spacecraft completed several weeks of on-orbit functional tests. Air Force operators at Schriever AFB, Colo., are now conducting additional tests and moving WGS-3 into its operational position over the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite is expected to become operational this spring, according to Boeing. WGS-3 was placed in orbit last December. It joined WGS-1 and WGS-2, which are operating over the Pacific Ocean and the Middle East, respectively. Boeing is under contract to build more WGS satellites.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.