Block IIF Successfully Launched from Cape Canaveral
May 28, 2010
The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the first GPS IIF satellite carried aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket at 11:00 p.m. EDT May 27 from Pad 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Update: Boeing has acquired the first on-orbit signals from the satellite. The signals indicate that the spacecraft bus is functioning normally and ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing. Following the 11 p.m. Thursday launch from Cape Canaveral, the satellite separated from the rocket's upper stage at 2:33 a.m., and a ground station on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean received the first signals from the satellite. The Air Force 19th Space Operations Squadron and Boeing's Mission Operations Support Center confirmed that the satellite is healthy. GPS signals from the spacecraft payload will be turned on for test purposes in the coming weeks.
The satellite will assume plane B, slot 2 position of the GPS constellation. The satellite is expected to be set healthy for navigation uses approximately 90 days after launch.
The launch was delayed four times from an initial May 20 launch date to iron out technical problems. “I’m delighted that this evening’s launch went off so well,” said Col. Dave Madden, commander, Global Positioning Systems Wing. “The team worked diligently to ensure that the first GPS IIF launch would be a success. Tonight’s launch not only moves us a step closer to delivering sustained, reliable new and improved GPS capabilities, it also shows our commitment to maintaining GPS as the gold standard for positioning, navigation and timing information.”
The GPS IIF satellite is expected to provide greater navigational accuracy to users through improvements in atomic clock technology and deliver a more robust signal for commercial aviation and search and rescue known as the third civil signal (L5). The improvements also include an on-board reprogrammable processor, which will continue to deploy the modernization efforts of the IIR-M satellites, a 12 year design life, and a more robust military signal.
“The entire team is proud to have been a part in orbiting the first GPS IIF-1 satellite, strengthening a service that greatly benefits U.S. and Allied warfighters as well as millions of GPS users worldwide,” said Col. Gerald Wirsig, commander, Delta Group and mission director for the launch.
Here is a video of the launch:
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