The second space vehicle in the modernization of the Global Positioning System, GPS III SV-02, is scheduled for launching on Thursday, July 28, 2019. The GPS satellite will be carried into transition orbit by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) DELTA IV Medium 4.2 (i.e., 4-meter diameter upper stage and two solid boosters) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch window starts at 10:55 a.m. EDT and ends 11:21 a.m. EDT.
ULA is apparently retiring the DELTA IV Medium configuration rocket after this mission, as they note this will the final flight of this particular design.
The GPS III SV-2 satellite was built by Lockheed Martin, and was declared ready-for-launch last August (2018). The satellite's propulsion engine was fueled in late June, and on July 2 the satellite installation on the DELTA IV upper stage fairing was announced.
The U.S. Air Force Space Mission Command has a Twitter Feed at
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC
and are providing updates as the launch date approaches.
The initial GPS III satellite, SV-1, was launched on December 23, 2018 by a SpaceX rocket. GPS II SV-1 is still being checked out, and its status is "testing."
GPS III SV-02 Launch
Re: GPS III SV-02 Launch
The launch of GPS III SV-02 occurred about month later than initially planned, and on August 22, 2019, the second GPS Phase III satellite, named MAGELLAN, was successfully carried into orbit by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) DELTA IV Medium rocket from Space Launch Complex-37, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. This was the 29th and last flight for a DELTA IV Medium rocket. ULA plans to replace the DELTA IV Medium rocket with a new VULCAN rocket.
A replay of the live ULA broadcast of the launch can be found on youTube. See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AgiyxDoXtE&feature=youtu.be&t=20
The first of these new GPS III satellites, GPS III SV-01 ("VESPUCCI"), remains in pre-operational status but is expected to be on-line by the end of 2019. A third GPS III satellite is expected to be launched in January 2020.
A replay of the live ULA broadcast of the launch can be found on youTube. See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AgiyxDoXtE&feature=youtu.be&t=20
The first of these new GPS III satellites, GPS III SV-01 ("VESPUCCI"), remains in pre-operational status but is expected to be on-line by the end of 2019. A third GPS III satellite is expected to be launched in January 2020.
Re: GPS III SV-02 Launch
In recent news Lockheed-Martin, the contractor building the GPS III satellites, reports on the status of GPS III-A satellites SV-03 through SV-09 as follows:
SV-03 has been in status "available for launch" since May 2019. A launch date in January 2020 is expected.
SV-04 has been declared "available for launch" and is in storage.
SV-05 is fully assembled and is finishing environmental testing; it will be available for launch in early 2020.
SV-06 is fully assembled and is in vacuum chamber testing.
SV-07/08/09 are on the production line.
When the GPS III-A phase of production ends, GPS III-F (for Follow-on) production will begin. The final design for GPS III-F satellites has not been completed. Several added features are planned for GPS III-F, including carrying 406-MHz MEOSAR transponders for the global search and rescue system. For more details see
GPS III SAR-SAT Payloads
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4066&p=23296#p23296
SV-03 has been in status "available for launch" since May 2019. A launch date in January 2020 is expected.
SV-04 has been declared "available for launch" and is in storage.
SV-05 is fully assembled and is finishing environmental testing; it will be available for launch in early 2020.
SV-06 is fully assembled and is in vacuum chamber testing.
SV-07/08/09 are on the production line.
When the GPS III-A phase of production ends, GPS III-F (for Follow-on) production will begin. The final design for GPS III-F satellites has not been completed. Several added features are planned for GPS III-F, including carrying 406-MHz MEOSAR transponders for the global search and rescue system. For more details see
GPS III SAR-SAT Payloads
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4066&p=23296#p23296
Re: GPS III SV-02 Launch
In a recently published article, United States Air Force Colonel John Claxton, Chief, PNT Mission Integration, Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, indicates that the first GPS III-F (Follow-on) satellite is now expected to be launched in 2026. The GPS III-F satellites are anticipated to include a 406-MHz-to-L-band bent pipe transponder for the global MEOSTAR SARSAT program.
The full article discusses many other projected timelines related to GPS III deployment.
The full article discusses many other projected timelines related to GPS III deployment.