{"id":15746,"date":"2016-02-02T19:45:01","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T11:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/united-launch-alliances-high-tempo-year-begins-with-gps-launch-friday\/"},"modified":"2016-02-02T19:45:01","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T11:45:01","slug":"united-launch-alliances-high-tempo-year-begins-with-gps-launch-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/united-launch-alliances-high-tempo-year-begins-with-gps-launch-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"United Launch Alliance\u2019s high-tempo year begins with GPS launch Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"File
File photo of the Atlas 5. Credit: James Murati \/ Bionetics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CAPE CANAVERAL \u2014 Kicking off United Launch Alliance\u2019s ambitious 2016 with as many as 15 launches planned for the U.S. military, intelligence community, NASA and commercial clients, an Atlas 5 rocket will thunder to orbit Friday to deploy the last satellite in the current generation of Global Positioning System navigation spacecraft.<\/p>\n

The GPS 2F-12 satellite will ride to space from Cape Canaveral, departing Complex 41 on 860,000 pounds of thrust during a launch window of 8:38 to 8:57 a.m. EST (1338-1357 GMT).<\/p>\n

The flight was delayed two days as a result of officials being notified of an industry-wide concern with electrical connectors. That prompted precautionary inspections of power and commanding connectors aboard the rocket.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrankly, a day or two delay cannot possibly compare to the loss of a vital national asset,\u201d said Walt Lauderdale, the Air Force\u2019s GPS 2F-12 mission director.<\/p>\n

\"The
The GPS 2F-12 satellite. Credit: ULA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the 12th and final spacecraft built by Boeing for the Air Force under the Block 2F program. The craft have featured improved accuracy, better anti-jamming and longer design lives than previous designs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand ready to launch the final GPS 2F vehicle. This mission will signify an end of an era with completion of the 2F series and exemplify the historic milestone and achievement for all of us involved,\u201d said Col. Steve Whitney, director of the Air Force\u2019s Global Positioning Systems Directorate.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, the upcoming launch mark the finale of one of the most aggressive launch campaigns in the last 20 years \u2014 seven GPS 2F in just over 21 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new $245 million craft will assume the place of GPS 2R-6, a craft launched aboard Delta 281 on Nov. 10, 2000, in Plane F, Slot 1 of the constellation. The older craft moves to an alternate role in the network once the fresh GPS 2F-12 enters service.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlacing 2F-12 in F-1 enhances the modernized navigation coverage for the GPS constellation. (2R-6) is a non-modernized vehicle, which is why it is being replaced,\u201d the Air Force\u2019s Space and Missile Systems Center told Spaceflight Now.<\/p>\n

\u201c(2R-6) will remain in service, and will be moved to another constellation location where it will enhance GPS legacy coverage and overall constellation robustness.\u201d<\/p>\n

To make room in the fleet for this launch, the oldest satellite still operating in the constellation, the GPS 2A-10 launched aboard Delta 201 on Nov. 26, 1990, is being retired from service completely.<\/p>\n

\"Artist's
Artist\u2019s concept of GPS Block 2A satellite that is being retired. Credit: Boeing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201c(It) will be retired shortly before the launch of 2F-12, as it is nearing the end of its useful life on orbit,\u201d Air Force officials said.<\/p>\n

The 12-satellite Block 2F project began launching in 2010 to form the backbone of the GPS fleet for the next 15 years.<\/p>\n

GPS 2F-1:<\/strong> May 27, 2010 (Delta 4) Plane B, Slot 2
\nGPS 2F-2:<\/strong> July 16, 2011 (Delta 4) Plane D, Slot 2A
\nGPS 2F-3:<\/strong> Oct. 4, 2012 (Delta 4) Plane A, Slot 1
\nGPS 2F-4:<\/strong> May 15, 2013 (Atlas 5) Plane C, Slot 2
\nGPS 2F-5:<\/strong> Feb. 20, 2014 (Delta 4) Plane A, Slot 3
\nGPS 2F-6:<\/strong> May 16, 2014 (Delta 4) Plane D, Slot 4
\nGPS 2F-7:<\/strong> Aug. 1, 2014 (Atlas 5) Plane F, Slot 3
\nGPS 2F-8:<\/strong> Oct. 29, 2014 (Atlas 5) Plane E, Slot 1
\nGPS 2F-9:<\/strong> March 25, 2015 (Delta 4) Plane B, Slot 1F
\nGPS 2F-10:<\/strong> July 15, 2015 (Atlas 5) Plane C, Slot 3
\nGPS 2F-11:<\/strong> Oct. 31, 2015 (Atlas 5) Plane E, Slot 2<\/p>\n

GPS 2F-12:<\/strong> Friday (Atlas 5) Plane F, Slot 1<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the first GPS 2F launch on May 27, 2010, these satellites have advanced the Air Force GPS modernization program by improving accuracy and security while introducing new civilian and military capabilities to a system used by billions of people around the world,\u201d said Mark Smith, Boeing\u2019s GPS 2F deputy program manager.<\/p>\n

\"Artist's
Artist\u2019s concept of the GPS 2F-12 satellite. Credit: Boeing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This will be the 72nd GPS satellite launch since 1978, the 17th to use an Atlas rocket and the sixth Block 2F on Atlas 5.<\/p>\n

There are 30 satellites in operation today \u2014 12 GPS 2Rs, 7 GPS 2R-Ms and 11 GPS 2Fs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe GPS constellation is healthy, stable and robust with 30 operational satellites on-orbit,\u201d said Whitney, adding that 9 more satellites are being held in residual, backup status.<\/p>\n

The continuous navigation signals emitted by GPS satellites allow users to find their position in latitude, longitude and altitude and measure time. A GPS user receiver measures the time delay for the signal to reach the receiver, which is the direct measure of the apparent range to the satellite.<\/p>\n

Measurements collected simultaneously from four satellites are processed to solve for the three dimensions of position, velocity and time.<\/p>\n

The Air Force estimates there are four billion GPS-enabled devices worldwide, a number that is expected to double in the next five years.<\/p>\n