US Air Force Begins Operation of Fifth Boeing-Built GPS IIF Satellite

Rendering of GPS satellites I, II, and IIF. Photo: Boeing

[Via Satellite 04-11-2014] Boeing handed over a fifth Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite to the U.S. Air Force to improve upon the accuracy of the constellation. Boeing and the Air Force validated the systems of the spacecraft, which was launched on February 20, and the vehicle has been stabilized and its navigation payload activated.

Boeing is currently preparing the sixth GPS IIF satellite to join the constellation, and plans to conduct a second quarter launch. The constellation will consist of 12 spacecraft total once complete.