A Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built GPS IIR satellite was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on March 20. It marked the 50^th Global Positioning System (GPS) mission for the United States.

The GPR IIR satellites are designed to improve global coverage and increase the overall performance of the U.S. government’s global positioning constellation. There currently are 10 GPS IIR birds in the 28-satellite constellation.