Flight Marks 100th Delta II Mission
A Boeing Delta II launch vehicle Sunday night successfully
delivered the first of the modernized Block IIR Global Positioning
System (GPS) satellites to space for the US Air Force.
The Delta II rocket carrying the GPS IIR-14 (M) spacecraft
lifted off from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, FL, at 2337 p.m. EDT. Following a nominal 24-minute
flight, the rocket deployed the satellite to a transfer orbit.
“We are honored to be the United States Air Force’s
choice to launch the GPS satellites and proud to have delivered the
first modernized spacecraft to its targeted orbit. Tonight’s
success is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of
Boeing’s Delta team,” said Dan Collins, vice president,
Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.
The Boeing Delta II 7925-9.5 configuration vehicle used for this
mission featured a Boeing first stage booster powered by a Pratt
& Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and nine Alliant
Techsystems (ATK) solid rocket boosters. An Aerojet AJ10-118K
engine powered the storable propellant restartable second stage. A
Thiokol Star-48B solid rocket motor propelled the third stage prior
to spacecraft deployment. The rocket also flew with a
nine-and-a-half-foot diameter Boeing payload fairing.
A redundant inertial flight control assembly built by L3
Communications Space & Navigation provided guidance and control
for the rocket that enabled a precise deployment of the
satellite.
The GPS IIR-14 (M) mission also marked the 100th flight of the
Delta II using the ATK 40-inch diameter version solid rocket
motors.
Boeing provides launches for the GPS program aboard Delta II
vehicles and has a planned GPS manifest through at least 2007.
The GPS network supports US military operations conducted from
aircraft, ships, land vehicles and by ground personnel. Additional
use includes mapping, aerial refueling and rendezvous, geodetic
surveys, and search and rescue operations.
GPS provides military and civilian users three-dimensional
position location data in longitude, latitude and elevation as well
as precise time and velocity. The satellites orbit the earth every
12 hours, emitting continuous navigation signals. The signals are
so accurate, time can be figured to within one millionth of a
second, velocity within a fraction of a mile-per-second and
location to within 100 feet.
The new GPS IIR-14 (M) is the first of the modernized GPS
satellites that incorporates various improvements to provide
greater accuracy, increased resistance to interference and enhanced
performance for users.