The United Launch Alliance successfully tossed a new Global Positioning System satellite into position Friday night . The satellite is the 7th of twelve planned launch of interim satellites to refresh aging spacecraft and improve functionality of the GPS web .
Timelapse of the GPS IIF-7 launch off of Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , Florida late on Friday dark . ikon credit : ULA
The launch window started at at11:23 pm Eastern time on Friday , August 1st . The window was open for 18 minutes , give a midget mo of gracility for any minor matter that come up . Prior to launch , conditions were at 70 % odds for favourable weather conditions , with some business of anvil cloud , agglomerate clouds , or a compact swarm layer . merrily , it was a still countdown and a beautiful night launch , successfully delivering the planet into position and allow for us with another batch of gorgeous launch photographs .
If the full launch video is too long , here ’s a much short charge - highlight reel :
To give you an idea of the beautiful complexity of orbital dynamics and Eruca vesicaria sativa skill , here ’s a crack-up of theintricate detail for every phase of the mission from launch to net separation : The first stage fire up at T-2.7 bit , bite for 4 min , 3.6 second before being jettisoned 6 seconds later on . The first point carried the rocket from liftoff ( T+1.1 second gear ) all the way out of the atmospheric state , with manoeuvring at T+17.2 seconds . At T+259.6 second ( 4 transactions , 19.6 seconds into the military mission ) , the second stage ignited . The second phase burn for 12 minutes , 49.2 secondment , skid into a parking eye socket and coasting near the apogee of the prey reach for the artificial satellite for just under 3 hours . By “ Just under , ” I really intend , “ 0.4 seconds under , ” because that ’s the sort of telephone number rocket scientists like enough about to not round ! ) At 3 hours , 17 minutes , and 47.2 arcsecond into the delegation , the second microscope stage started up again for a quick 2 minute , 8.4 second tan before cutting off . Finally , 4 minutes and 45.7 seconds later , the satellite separated from the roquette .
If you need even more detail , check out the live coverage record fromJohn Studwell on AmericaSpace .
GPS IIF-7 come at Cape Canaveral Airforce Base in Florida in training for the launch . mental image credit entry : US Air Force
Currently , 31 GPS artificial satellite are in scope , with IIF-7 bumping that figure up to 32 once it gets declared to the full in operation . We only take 24 functional satellites for the Global Positioning System to work , but it ’s dainty to have spares just in instance something snuff it awry . Considering GPS is a Department of Defense project and their large constellation of satellites , “ fully useable ” is not an optional proposal , so they get all the spares they make up one’s mind are necessary .
The current constellation of GPS orbiter are all 2nd generation satellites , but from various classifications of updates . Before today , the constellation had six Global Positioning System IIA satellites , twelve GPS IIR satellite , seven GPS IIRM satellites , and 6 GPS IIF satellites . The earliest multiplication of still - functioning Global Positioning System satellites are GPS Block IIA , launched between 1989 and 1997 . They ’re hitting the remnant of their designed 7.5 - class lifespans , so are being replaced by a set of interim Block IIF satellite .
The GPS Block IIF planet are interim course of satellite intended to bring home the bacon service until the next generation of GPS Block IIIA are settle , built , and make it into orbit . The Block IIIAs were originally intended to set in motion this twelvemonth , but were delay . They ’re presently projected to make orbit in 2016 , strike nothing else happens to agitate them back farther .
The Boeing - construct Block IIF orbiter have a few of thenew enhanced capacitiesthat should result in gravid truth , increased signaling , enhanced performance ( including an L5 signal for civilians ) , and improved resistance to electronic jamming . Because they ’re being drop straight off into the target orbits , they also do n’t need the apogee sensors of earlier good example . Between the improved technology and the reduced sensor load , the IIFs are a bit swooning , mass 1,630 kg ( 3,590 pounds ) . Despite their rather temporary - vocalize compartmentalization , the interim Block IIF satellites have a 12 - year usable lifetime , longer than the Block IIAs they are replace .
An Atlas fin blasting off with GPS IIF-7 on August 1 , 2014 . persona mention : ULA
The Block IIA satellites were purloin into domain by Delta II rockets , which got them penny-pinching enough but required extra manoeuvring to take up last positions in the planet configuration . The new auction block are being lifted by more powerful Eruca sativa capable of depositing them forthwith in their last field . accordingly , the Block IIF satellites do n’t need apogee detector to get them into the appropriate place , contributing to their slim mass compared to earlier GPS space vehicle .
All the Block IIF satellites are being launched by United Launch Alliance ( ULA ) . The first five orbiter were launched by Delta IV skyrocket ; IIF-6 in May and now IIF-7 were both found byAtlas V arugula .
A Delta IV rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station awaiting boosting the Global Positioning System IIF-6 satellite into orbit on May 16 , 2014 . Image credit : Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
This specific planet will be filling one-armed bandit 3 of the configuration ’s planing machine F. It ’ll be at an altitude of20,460 klick ( 12,700 Roman mile ) at an inclining of 55 degrees , making a complete scope every twelve hours . It ’s substitute GPS IIR-2 ( USA-132 ) , which launched in July 1997 . Once IIF-7 proves itself in full open , IIR-2 will slew on over to take on the role of operational taciturnity for sheet F , relieving GPS IIA-5 ( GPS II-16 , USA-83 ) , which launch way back in 1992 .
Blastoff of the Atlas V. Image credit : US Air Force
The Global Positioning System is just one of several positioning artificial satellite constellations currently in utilization . The other major global meshwork isGLONASS , keep by Russia . Severalregional programme also exist , utilizing a littler figure of satellites to offer positioning data for specific region .
The next GPS satellite schedule for launch is IIF-8 in mid - October . It arrived at Cape Canaveral on July 16th to get pre - launch preparation .
The Atlas V , serenely wait launch in the day head up until August 1 . mental image credit : ULA
Tip viaEvgeny Petushkov
Atlas Vlaunch write up
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