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Next GPS Satellite Launches on Thursday October 4th
Article by: Mike Barrett
Date: 2 Oct 2012
This week on Thursday October 4th will see the launch of a Delta IV rocket carrying the third of the new family of GPS Satellites into space to strengthen both the public and military positioning services. The Delta IV rocket is scheduled to blast off at 8:10 am EDT (12:10pm GMT) on Thursday from SLC-37B on the USA Atlantic coast at Cape Canaveral.
The Navstar GPS IIF-3 spacecraft will join the constellation of GPS satellites replacing one of the older GPS satellites that has reached the end of its useful life. The GPS IIF satellites incorporate a number of features to improve the location capabilities of the technology. In particular these spacecraft have double the predicted signal accuracy than existing satellites, a new L5 signal for more reliable civil and commercial aircraft, the ability to be reprogrammed in space, and better resistance to jamming for the military side of the systems.
With the sun rising over Cape Canaveral just after 7am and the launch scheduled for 8:10 the rocket will be heading off east into the rising sun. The entire launch sequence from the ignition of the main engine through to the separation of the second stage takes just over 3 hours. At this point the satellite will be in its operational orbit of 11,047 miles ready for checkout and constellation integration.
The first GPS IIF satellite was launched on May 27, 2010 and entered service on August 26, 2010. The second satellite, which launched on July 16, 2011, entered service on August 22, 2011. "As each IIF satellite becomes operational, we continue the seamless transformation of the GPS constellation into an even more accurate, reliable and durable navigation resource for the U.S. military and the global civilian user community," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.
Boeing are contracted to manufacture 12 GPS IIF satellites. This launch will place SVN-65 into the constellation. Of the remaining nine IIFs that Boeing is building for the Air Force, three are complete and in storage, and six are being assembled and tested.
For the full story and launch coverage visit www.wired4space.com.
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