Pentagon May Defer Launches of 2 Wideband Communications Satellites

摘要

Facing a budget crunch that has it scouring all possibilities for near-term cost savings, the U.S. Defense Department's space leadership is considering deferring the launches of two wideband communications satellites currently under construction, including one that is being paid for by a consortium of U.S. allies, according to multiple sources. The satellites in question are the last two in the U.S. Air Force's Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) program, which features 10 satellites either in orbit or under construction by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems of El Segundo, California. The Air Force could defer the launches of one or both of those spacecraft, a move that would push up to $400 million in launch costs beyond the service's five-year planning horizon, these sources said.