United Launch Alliance has delayed the launch of a Delta IV rocket carrying the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM communications satellite due to a problem with a first-stage booster, the company announced Saturday. The WGS-9 launch had been scheduled for this week, but when a routine pre-launch inspection uncovered the booster issue, ULA delayed the launch to “no earlier than March 14.” ULA launched the previous satellite in the WGS constellation aboard a Delta IV rocket on Dec. 7, 2016.
More than 10 months beyond the originally expected goal, the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have reached a “handshake deal” on Lots 15-17 of the fighter, which collectively will amount to only 375 aircraft. No pricing information was included in the JPO’s announcement, which awaits formal signature. The…