US Air Force to Launch New GPS Satellite Tonight
The United States Air Force will loft a new, advanced GPS satellite into orbit tonight (Aug. 1), and you can watch the launch live online.
The Air Force's GPS 2F-7 is set to launch to space atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at 11:23 p.m. EDT (0323 Aug. 2 GMT) on Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The new satellite will help to further bolster the Air Force's Global Positioning Satellite network, used by civilians and military personnel around the world to map their locations, time and velocity.
"GPS is a system of satellites, ground stations and user equipment that produce the signals needed to enable positioning, navigation and timing services to users worldwide," Col. Bill Cooley, director of the Global Positioning System Directorate, told reporters last week. "The GPS constellation is healthy, robust and more capable than it has ever been in GPS history." [The World's Tallest Rockets Compared]
This launch will mark the third GPS satellite launch this year, and it is the seventh in a series of 12 satellites, according to Air Force officials.
The GPS network of satellites is the Department of Defense's largest satellite constellation, and it includes 31 currently operational satellites in orbit now. In all, the Air Force's GPS constellation needs 24 satellites to be fully functional, however, the extra spacecraft provide some backup in case any problems pop up.
The $245 million GPS 2F-7 will join six GPS 2-As, 12 GPS 2-Rs, 7 GPS 2-RMs and the six other GPS 2-F satellites already orbiting Earth.
"GPS 2F-7 is the seventh in a series of next generation GPS satellites and the second in this series launched aboard an Atlas 5 launch vehicle," Laura Maginnis, ULA's deputy director of mission management, told reporters. "The satellite will incorporate various improvements to provide greater accuracy, increased signal and enhanced performance for GPS users around the world."
GPS 2F satellites like the one set for launch tonight are designed to last 12 years or more, and they have "two times greater predicted signal accuracy" than their predecessors, according to a ULA mission description.
The new, advances satellites are also more resistant to jamming than previous models were.
Space.com partner Spaceflight Now will provide up-to-the-minute information on tonight's launch through their Mission Status Center for GPS 2F-7. Space fans can also follow United Launch Alliance's Twitter page for updates from the spaceflight company during the launch.
Follow Miriam Kramer @mirikramer and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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