Boeing Ships 3rd GPS IIF Satellite to Cape Canaveral for Fall Launch
31 Jul 2012Through its Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems (S&IS), Boeing, the world’s leading manufacturer of geostationary satellites, has shipped its third of twelve Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites for the United States Air Force. The satellite was shipped from its Satellite Development Center located in El Segundo to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The GPS IIF system is a next-generation satellite system that boosts GPS constellation performance by not only providing two times the navigational accuracy of older satellites, but will also provide enhanced signals for commercial aviation. Improved search-and-rescue and GPS tracking applications are other likely benefits of the GPS IIF system. Lastly, the IIF satellites will offer greater resistance to jamming, which is particularly beneficial in hostile environments.
The SVN-65 satellite, as the third satellite is dubbed, will be launched in October this year aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta rocket. SVN-65 will join the first two GPS IIF (SV-1 and SV-2) satellites built by Boeing, which were launched in May 27, 2010 and July 16, 2011, respectively. The first two satellites are currently in service.
“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 in Boeing’s press release.
Other features of the SVN-65 satellite include an orbit, re-programmable processor capable of receiving software uploads for system operation improvement. Additionally, the GPS IIF satellite has a 12-year life for long-term operation and low cost service.
Nine of the twelve GPS IIF satellites built by Boeing have yet to be shipped. Three have their construction completed and are waiting in storage, while the remaining six are in the assembling and testing phase of their development.
So far, Boeing has built a majority of the GPS satellites orbiting today — 40 of 62 — launched since 1978.
The third GPS IIF satellite is expected to be launched on October 4, 2012.
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