USA-211

USA-211, or Wideband Global Satcom 3 (WGS-3) is an American military communications satellite operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Wideband Global Satcom programme. Launched in 2009, it was the third WGS satellite, and final Block I spacecraft, to reach orbit. It is stationed at 12° west in Geostationary orbit.

Built by Boeing, USA-211 is based on the BSS-702 satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of 5987 kg, and was expected to operate for fourteen years. The spacecraft is equipped with two solar arrays to generate power for its communications payload, which consists of cross-band X and Ka band transponders. Propulsion is provided by an R-4D-15 apogee motor, with four XIPS-25 ion engines for stationkeeping.

USA-211 was launched by United Launch Alliance, who placed it into orbit using an Delta IV rocket, which flew for the first time in the Medium+(5,4) configuration. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with at 01:47:00 UTC on 6 December 2009. The launch was successful, placing the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself into geostationary orbit using its propulsion system. Following launch, the satellite was designated USA-211 under the US military's designation system, and received the International Designator 2009-068A and Satellite Catalog Number 36108.