An artist's concept of a DSCS satellite in space. Photo: Lockheed Martin

A $200 million U.S. military communications satellite is awaiting a new launch date after a last-minute electrical concern with a crucial internal part forced officials to scrap a planned liftoff this week.

The Defense Satellite Communications System B11 spacecraft has been slated for blastoff Thursday aboard an $80 million Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

However, engineers became worried with the health of the craft's Initiation Timer Switch last week during the Combined Electrical Readiness Test, a U.S. Air Force spokeswoman said.

After the Lockheed Martin-built satellite is released into space from the Atlas rocket's Centaur upper stage, its onboard kick motor will fire to achieve a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator.

The switch then commands the satellite into "on-orbit mode" for its life in space, officials said. Once the engine firing is complete, the switch signals the extension of the power-generating solar arrays and the craft's transition from its launch configuration to space-based communications relay platform.

Further troubleshooting has been underway and officials believe the issue is nearly put to rest.

A new launch date is pending but is currently expected around October 19 -- one week later than originally planned.

A DSCS 3 satellite during pre-flight testing at manufacturer facilities. Photo: Lockheed Martin

The U.S. military relies on the DSCS fleet of five primary spacecraft to cover different parts of the globe for communications between commanders and troops in the field. DSCS provides super-high frequency, uninterrupted and secure voice and data communications.

The satellite will be the 12th launched in a series of 14 in the current DSCS 3 generation and second of four with the Service Life Enhancement Program upgrades. The enhancements give the satellites more power, which in turn increases their communications relay capabilities for more users with smaller antennas.

The last DSCS launched was in January.