CAPE CANAVERAL AFS, FL - A twenty-year era ended at Cape Canaveral today with the 48th successful launch by a Delta II rocket of a an Air Force Delta II Global Positioning System satellite. A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket launched before dawn from Space Launch Complex-17A at 6:35 a.m., EDT today, placing the final GPS-IIR spacecraft into orbit slightly more than an hour later.
FREE VIDEO: OUR VIDEO OF THE LAUNCH FROM BEACH SOUTH OF PAD FREE VIDEO: DELTA LIFTS OFF WITH GPS RR-21 FREE VIDEO: LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS (COURTESY ULA) ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: WATCH A REPLAY OF THE ENTIRE ULA LAUNCH WEBCAST ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: CAMERAS NEAR THE PAD MONITOR THE ROCKET DURING LAUNCH OPS #1 ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: CAMERAS NEAR THE PAD MONITOR THE ROCKET DURING LAUNCH OPS #2 READ: DELTA 2 GPS 2R-21 MISSION BOOK The first Air Force Delta II GPS launch occurred Feb. 14, 1989 and today’s launch marked the 48th GPS mission giving the program a 97.96 percent success rate for GPS launches. The first launch in 1989 was NAVSTAR II-1. NAVSTAR is now commonly known as GPS. The Delta II 7925-9.5 configuration utilized today featured a first stage booster powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and nine Alliant Techsystems (ATK) strap-on solid rocket motors. An Aerojet AJ10-118K engine powered the second stage. A spin-stabilized Star-48B solid-rocket motor built by ATK boosted the third stage. The payload was encased by a 9.5-foot-diameter metallic payload fairing. Following a nominal 1 hour and 8 minute flight, the rocket deployed the GPS IIR-21(M) spacecraft, the eighth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block II R-M military navigation satellite. "Congratulations to the Air Force and our mission partners in deploying this revolutionary space system that has changed the world for the better in the past 20 years," said Jim Sponnick, vice president, Delta Product Line. "One third of the 143 successful Delta II launches were GPS satellites. The ULA Delta team is extremely proud to have launched this incredible constellation. During the past two decades, the system has changed how people live their lives on a daily basis. GPS has greatly improved military operations as well as numerous maritime, aircraft, civilian and business operations worldwide." "This morning's successful launch of GPS IIR-21(M) was the direct result of a focused Delta II and GPS team executing a textbook launch campaign," said Mr. John Wagner, Mission Director for the launch and Chief Technical Director for the Launch and Range Systems Wing. "Congratulations to the United Launch Alliance, Lockheed Martin and our entire Air Force team on a job well done. This launch marks the fifth mission in a busy year for the Launch and Range Systems Wing, delivering critical space capabilities for our nation." Today's launch was the last GPS satellite that will be launched on board the Delta II, and the last Delta II launch for the U.S. military. The Delta II has been the sole booster that has enabled the United States Air Force to construct the current operational GPS constellation. Since the first GPS launch in 1978, measures have been incorporated to ensure improved accuracy and signal availability. While this launch concludes the Air Force use of Delta II as it transitions its systems to Atlas V and Delta IV, the Delta II will still keep launching into the future for NASA and commercial customers. Up to 12 NASA and commercial Delta II missions may be launched in the coming years as United Launch Alliance still has a dozen of the venerable rockets in its inventory. The first of those missions won't be far behind GPS IIR-21(M). "We have the STSS Demo launch set for September, the WorldView-2 launch scheduled for October, and several more scheduled beyond those missions," Sponnick said. "The Delta II workhorse will remain the medium class launch vehicle industry standard for years to come." GPS is a space-based positioning system designed and operated as a 24-satellite constellation that provides precision navigation and timing information to military and civilian users worldwide. Designed to operate for 10 years, GPS satellites orbit the Earth every 12 hours, emitting continuous navigation signals. With the proper equipment, users can receive these signals to precisely calculate time, location and velocity. In addition to its military use, GPS satellites provide directional assistance to civilian users around the world. GPS plays a major role in many ways such as a navigation system providing accurate directions to any mapped location, in the air providing safe and efficient aviation, on oceans and navigable waterways providing more efficient use of maritime resources, emergency and rescue services and in conducting day-to-day business within our global economy. GPS addresses the growing needs of the military, civil and commercial users around the globe. GPS IIR-21(M) will join the constellation of 30 operational satellites on-orbit providing global coverage and increased overall performance of GPS service. GPS IIR-21(M) will assume plane E, slot 3 position replacing space vehicle number 40. Users around the globe will benefit from the improved accuracy, enhanced encryption, anti-jamming capabilities and a second civil signal to provide dual frequency capability and improve resistance to interference. The satellite is expected to be set healthy for navigation users worldwide next month. "I am exceedingly pleased with today's launch, and elated to be a part of a mission that plays a critical component of our nation's infrastructure. Today's launch culminates the awesome team work and commitment of government and industry team of dedicated professionals. We achieved a major milestone in GPS history today, as we launch the last GPS IIR-M satellite and begin a new era of GPS services to modernize and sustain the GPS constellation. GPS has evolved to the status of global utility, vital to commercial users and the security of the world. The future technology for GPS lies ahead as we synchronize the development and deployment of the future GPS IIF and GPS III satellites, the Next Generation Control System, and the new M-Code User Equipment," said Col. Dave Madden, Commander, Global Positioning Systems Wing. The next launch from Florida is scheduled to be NASA's space shuttle Discovery on STS-128. The Flight Readiness Review will be held this week to set a final launch date. The space agency is currently targeting August 24 at 1:58 a.m. EDT, but that may slip to the 25th at 1:35, depending on the vehicle's prelaunch processing. (The Spacearium / Space Media Corporation)
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