After several days of delays due to technical reasons, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the first Global Positioning System IIF satellite finally lifted off at 11:00 p.m. EDT today from Space Launch Complex 37 and successfuly placed the Global Positioning System GPS IIF SV-1 satellite into orbit three and a half hours later. GPS IIF SV-1 marked the 349th launch in the Delta program’s 50 year history, which began with its first launch on May 13, 1960.
DOCUMENTS DELTA IV GPS IIF SV-1 MISSION BOOKREAD (PDF) FREE VIDEO MISSION HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO (CREDIT: UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE) • WATCH | DOWNLOAD OUR VIDEO OF THE LAUNCH FROM THE KSC PRESS SITE • WATCH | DOWNLOAD DELTA IV ROCKET LIFTS OFF WITH GPS IIF SV-1 • WATCH | DOWNLOAD ALL-ACCESS MEMBER VIDEO DOWNLOADS WATCH A REPLAY OF THE ENTIRE LAUNCH WEBCAST • DOWNLOAD "The 45th Space Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, GPS Wing, Boeing and United Launch Alliance team are proud to launch the first installment of the GPS Block IIF," said Col Andre Lovett, Space Wing vice commander, who served as Launch Decision Authority. "This mission proves our dedication to deliver space effects that benefit, protect and defend our nation." The GPS IIF vehicle is critical to U.S. national security and sustaining GPS constellation availability for global civil, commercial and defense applications. Besides sustaining the GPS constellation, IIF features increased capability and improved mission performance and longevity. GPS IIF SV-1 is the first in a series of next generation GPS satellites, and following its nearly three hour, 33 minute flight, it joined a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites, in six different planes, with a minimum of four satellites per plane, positioned in orbit approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. This flight marked a first for the GPS program. Previously, all GPS spacecraft were delivered to orbit on the Delta II medium-lift rocket. Today's mission was the first time a GPS satellite was carried by the larger Delta IV launch vehicle. "Not only is it the first IIF to be launched, this is the first GPS satellite to ride on the Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle," said Lt. Col. Lance Jones, 5th Space Launch Squadron director of operations. "The IIF system brings next-generation performance to the GPS constellation." The launch was the 10th flight of a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral AFS. It was the fourth launch of an evolved expendable launch vehicle and the seventh launch this year on the Eastern Range. The launch came as the Air Force and ULA marked the 50th anniversary of the Delta rocket family, which has a history dating back to 1960. “We congratulate the Air Force and our mission partners on the successful launch of the first of the new generation of GPS satellites,” said Jim Sponnick, vice president, Delta Product Line. “Today’s launch comes just one week after the 50th anniversary of the first Delta launch and was the 13th mission success for the newest Delta launch vehicle, the Delta IV. The partnership between the Air Force and the Delta team has resulted in the successful launches of many national security missions directly supporting our troops on the battlefield. Launching the first of the next generation of GPS satellites is a great way to start our next 50 years.” During the past five decades, the Delta family of expendable launch vehicles has achieved one of the most successful flight records of any rocket currently in use, with a success rate of 95.7 percent. The Delta II, since its first launch in February 1989 has an incredible 98.6 percent success rate. The December 2009 launch of the NASA WISE mission was the 92nd consecutive successful launch with the Delta II system. The Delta IV, making its debut in November 2002, continues this legacy with 100 percent mission success for its 13 missions in the last eight years. “Our ULA team is proud of the Delta success record and the contributions it has made to scientific exploration, national defense, and economic prosperity,” Sponnick said. “Delta has been so successful for the last 50 years because of tremendous support from our government mission partners as well as our outstanding suppliers and commercial customers.” "We've asked the proud men and women of the 5th to operate at its fastest tempo ever and they have answered the call without missing a single beat," said Colonel Jones, who served as Air Force Launch Director for the mission. "With another successful launch, our government and industry team will carry the momentum from this year to next and continue to successfully deliver national assets on orbit." ULA’s next launch is the U.S. Air Force Advanced Extremely High Frequency-1 (AEHF-1) mission scheduled for July 30, aboard an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-41 here.            Photos Above: Credit United Launch Alliance)
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