The Air Force successfully launched the 11th GPS IIF satellite into orbit on Oct. 31, according to Air Force Space Command.
The Boeing-built satellite was launched at 12:13 p.m. Eastern Time from Cape Canaveral Launch Station 41 in Florida using an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle, the space command news release says said.
In addition to the GPS IIF satellites, Space Command has GPS IIAs, 12 GPS IIRs and seven GPS IIR-Ms in orbit, the news release said says. These satellites are operated by Air Force Space Command's 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
Space command plans to launch one more GPS IIF satellite. Testing is underway for the GPS III satellite, which prime contractor Lockheed Martin vows will have three times better accuracy and eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities, and it should be the first GPS satellite that will be interoperable with other global navigation satellite systems.
But the launch of the first GPS III satellite has been delayed until 2017 because of subcontractor problems with the satellites' navigation system, which is being built by subcontractor Exelis, according to the Denver Post.
