The Air Force’s eighth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-series satellite (GPS IIF-8) signaled to controllers it is functioning properly about 3.5 hours after the Oct. 29 launch, according to prime contractor Boeing [BA].
Successful liftoff took place at 1:21 p.m. EDT Oct. 29 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. United Launch Alliance (ULA) was the launch provider, using its Atlas V launch vehicle. The satellite is to enter full operational service during December.
The next GPS IIF launch is expected during the first quarter of 2015. The Air Force ordered 12 GPS IIF satellites in total, and the four remaining satellites are stored and maintained at Boeing’s satellite development center in El Segundo, Calif. The GPS IIFs are bringing into service the new civil L5 signal.
The Oct. 29 launch was the first to use GPS metric tracking as opposed to radar to track the launch vehicle. Officials expect the move to GPS metric tracking could save the service around $1 million per year, depending on how many radars are kept to support vehicles without the GPS metric tracking capability.
GPS IIF provides precise positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services to military and civilian users. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing.