GPS IIF-10 Launch - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Small Boat Electrical
  GPS IIF-10 Launch

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   GPS IIF-10 Launch

jimh posted 06-30-2015 09:37 PM ET (US)
The launch of GPS IIF-10, the tenth of 12 planned GPS satellite in the IIF series, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2015 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is believed this satellite will be designated SVN 72; SVN 40 will be decommissioned to make room for the new satellite in the GPS constellation. SVN 40 is a Block IIA satellite, and upon its retirement there will only be two Block IIA satellites left in service.
The GPS IIF-10 satellite will be the second GPS launch of 2015. The satellite will be carried into orbit atop an ATLAS V 401 launch vehicle.
A webcast of the launch will be available on launch day from
http://www.ulalaunch.com/
The GPS IIF block of satellites carry the legacy signals, L1 C/A, L1 P(Y),and L2 P(Y). They add new signals for civilian use at the L2 and L5 carrier, and improve military signals at the L1 and L2 carriers. More information on the GPS IIF series from
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=18670
If the launch goes as planned on July 15, it will be two days before the 20th anniversary of an important milestone in GPS history: on July 17, 1995 the Air Force announced the Global Positioning System had achieved full operational capability.
jimh posted 07-08-2015 01:45 PM ET (US)
With about a week to go before the scheduled launch, let me give a bit more detail about the rocket that will lift GPS IIF-10 into orbit.
The ATLAS V 401 has been a very reliable launching system, and it is described in detail at
http://www.spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-401.html
The most interesting aspect of the ATLAS V 401 is the main rocket motor, an RD-180. The RD-180 is manufactured by NPO ENERGOMASH, a Russian company. Although the United Launch Alliance calls the overall rocket an ATLAS--a very American sounding name and a familiar name in the history of American rocketry--the first-stage rocket motor is made in Russia, by Russians, from Russian technology.
A Wikipedia article at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ RD-180#Replacement_for_the_RD-180_engine_on_US_Atlas_launch_vehicle
gives more insight into the geo-politics of the USA using a Russian rocket. Apparently we are looking at the end of this cooperation in the near future, due to the politics of Mr. Putin and the dispute in the Ukraine.
A replacement for the RD-180 motor is being developed by BLUE ORIGIN. BLUE ORIGIN is a private rocket company headed by Jeff Bezos. If that name is familiar, it is because Jeff Bezos is the founder of AMAZON.COM. Mr. Bezos is a multi-billionaire.
As someone who grew up in the 1960's watching the USA get to the moon on rockets that were designed and manufactured in the USA, it seems unsettling that we rely on a Russian rocket motor to get our GPS satellites into orbit in 2015.
number9 posted 07-09-2015 12:18 AM ET (US)
Yes, [the date of July 17, 2015, the 20th anniversary of full operation status of the NAVSTAR GPS system is] an important milestone in GPS history, yet [changed topic to begin to discuss historical dates in his personal use of the Air Force NAVSTAR Global Positioning System and his own recollections of GPS receiver technology.]
jimh posted 07-16-2015 09:05 PM ET (US)
The launch of GPS IIF-10 was a success.
jimh posted 08-18-2015 12:15 PM ET (US)
Update on SVN 72 or GPS IIF-10: According to the GPS status website at
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?Do=constellationStatus

quote:
GPS SATELLITE SVN72 (PRN08) WAS USABLE AS OF JDAY 224
(12 AUG 2015) BEGINNING 1653 ZULU

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: GPS IIF-10 Launch
jimh	posted 06-30-2015 09:37 PM ET (US) The launch of GPS IIF-10, the tenth of 12 planned GPS satellite in the IIF series, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2015 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is believed this satellite will be designated SVN 72; SVN 40 will be decommissioned to make room for the new satellite in the GPS constellation. SVN 40 is a Block IIA satellite, and upon its retirement there will only be two Block IIA satellites left in service. The GPS IIF-10 satellite will be the second GPS launch of 2015. The satellite will be carried into orbit atop an ATLAS V 401 launch vehicle. A webcast of the launch will be available on launch day from http://www.ulalaunch.com/ The GPS IIF block of satellites carry the legacy signals, L1 C/A, L1 P(Y),and L2 P(Y). They add new signals for civilian use at the L2 and L5 carrier, and improve military signals at the L1 and L2 carriers. More information on the GPS IIF series from http://www.losangeles.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=18670 If the launch goes as planned on July 15, it will be two days before the 20th anniversary of an important milestone in GPS history: on July 17, 1995 the Air Force announced the Global Positioning System had achieved full operational capability.
jimh	posted 07-08-2015 01:45 PM ET (US) With about a week to go before the scheduled launch, let me give a bit more detail about the rocket that will lift GPS IIF-10 into orbit. The ATLAS V 401 has been a very reliable launching system, and it is described in detail at http://www.spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-401.html The most interesting aspect of the ATLAS V 401 is the main rocket motor, an RD-180. The RD-180 is manufactured by NPO ENERGOMASH, a Russian company. Although the United Launch Alliance calls the overall rocket an ATLAS--a very American sounding name and a familiar name in the history of American rocketry--the first-stage rocket motor is made in Russia, by Russians, from Russian technology. A Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ RD-180#Replacement_for_the_RD-180_engine_on_US_Atlas_launch_vehicle gives more insight into the geo-politics of the USA using a Russian rocket. Apparently we are looking at the end of this cooperation in the near future, due to the politics of Mr. Putin and the dispute in the Ukraine. A replacement for the RD-180 motor is being developed by BLUE ORIGIN. BLUE ORIGIN is a private rocket company headed by Jeff Bezos. If that name is familiar, it is because Jeff Bezos is the founder of AMAZON.COM. Mr. Bezos is a multi-billionaire. As someone who grew up in the 1960's watching the USA get to the moon on rockets that were designed and manufactured in the USA, it seems unsettling that we rely on a Russian rocket motor to get our GPS satellites into orbit in 2015.
number9	posted 07-09-2015 12:18 AM ET (US) Yes, [the date of July 17, 2015, the 20th anniversary of full operation status of the NAVSTAR GPS system is] an important milestone in GPS history, yet [changed topic to begin to discuss historical dates in his personal use of the Air Force NAVSTAR Global Positioning System and his own recollections of GPS receiver technology.]
jimh	posted 07-16-2015 09:05 PM ET (US) The launch of GPS IIF-10 was a success.
jimh	posted 08-18-2015 12:15 PM ET (US) Update on SVN 72 or GPS IIF-10: According to the GPS status website at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?Do=constellationStatus quote: GPS SATELLITE SVN72 (PRN08) WAS USABLE AS OF JDAY 224 (12 AUG 2015) BEGINNING 1653 ZULU