Sixth Modernized GPS Satellite Successfully Launched From Cape Canaveral

[+Egnix]

From the press release:

Modernized GPS Satellite Built by Lockheed Martin Successfully Launched From Cape Canaveral

Saturday March 15, 3:42 am ET

 

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A U.S. Air Force modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News), was successfully launched today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II launch vehicle.

 

The satellite, designated GPS IIR-19M, is the sixth in a line of eight GPS IIR satellites that Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems, Valley Forge, Pa. has modernized for its customer, the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

 

Today's mission represented the third successful launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite in under five months and is one of the final three Block IIR-M satellites planned for launch in 2008 to sustain and improve the GPS constellation.

 

Each IIR-M satellite includes a modernized antenna panel that provides increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals for improved accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, and a second civil signal that will provide users with an open access signal on a different frequency.

 

"All of us at Lockheed Martin are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Air Force and the Block IIR-M's impressive record of performance," said Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Navigation Systems. "We look forward to conducting another timely and efficient on-orbit checkout so that the warfighter and civil users around the globe can benefit from this satellite's advanced navigational capabilities as quickly as possible."

 

The GPS constellation provides critical situational awareness and precision weapon guidance for the military and supports a wide range of civil, scientific and commercial functions -- from air traffic control to the Internet -- with precision location and timing information.

 

Lockheed Martin and its navigation payload provider ITT of Clifton, N.J. designed and built 21 IIR spacecraft and subsequently modernized eight of those spacecraft designated Block IIR-M for the Air Force. The final satellite, which includes a new demonstration payload that will provide a temporary on-orbit demonstration for the new civil signal, known as L5, has just completed final integration testing and is on track for shipment to Cape Canaveral next month in preparation for launch in June.

 

The Global Positioning System enables properly equipped users to determine precise time and velocity and worldwide latitude, longitude and altitude to within a few meters. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users.

[+Egnix]

Some pictures.

[MtnHermit]

I'm just geeky enough to enjoy this post.

 

Thank You.

[+Team CowboyPapa]

I'm just geeky enough to enjoy this post.

 

Thank You.

I'm not that geeky, but I still enjoy it.

[+DENelson83]

So what's the SVN for GPS IIR-M6? I know its PRN will be 07.

[+Egnix]

It's SVN48.

[+EraSeek]

Here's a GPS WORLD article.

[+Egnix]

Spaceflightnow.com's post-launch writeup. (I always like their post-launch writeups. )

 

Something all cachers should rejoice in: "Each time we launch one of these new satellites, the overall accuracy of the system goes up," (Col. Dave) Madden said."

[+Team CowboyPapa]

Spaceflightnow.com's post-launch writeup. (I always like their post-launch writeups. )

 

Something all cachers should rejoice in: "Each time we launch one of these new satellites, the overall accuracy of the system goes up," (Col. Dave) Madden said."

Copy that. And written by Justin Ray. He also does the blow-by-blow of the pre-launch activities obtainable form Spaceflight Now or Florida Today.

[knowschad]

Spaceflightnow.com's post-launch writeup. (I always like their post-launch writeups. )

 

Something all cachers should rejoice in: "Each time we launch one of these new satellites, the overall accuracy of the system goes up," (Col. Dave) Madden said."

 

And here, I thought I was just getting better at finding the caches! Dang!!

[+Team CowboyPapa]

Spaceflightnow.com's post-launch writeup. (I always like their post-launch writeups. )

 

Something all cachers should rejoice in: "Each time we launch one of these new satellites, the overall accuracy of the system goes up," (Col. Dave) Madden said."

 

And here, I thought I was just getting better at finding the caches! Dang!!

He didn't say that the overall accuracy goes up by 1/8".