Tags: Artificialsatellite, Satellite.
USA-243 also known as WGS-5 is an American military communications satellite. It was the fifth satellite to be launched as part of the Wideband Global SATCOM programme and the second Block II spacecraft.Constructed by Boeing USA-243 is based on the BSS-702HP satellite bus. It had a mass at liftoff of 5987 kilograms (13199 lb) and a design life of 14 years. Its two solar panels generate upwards of 11 kilowatts of power. The spacecraft is equipped with X and Ka-band transponders.