Last GPS IIR-M satellites being readied for launch (Forwarded)
- From: Andrew Yee <ayee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:08:16 -0500
Public Affairs
45th Space Wing
Patrick AFB, Florida
1/18/2008
Last GPS IIR-M satellites being readied for launch
By Airman David Dobrydney, 45th SW Public Affairs
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- Last Thursday, the second to last
Global Positioning System block IIR-M satellites to be launched arrived at
Cape Canaveral AFS.
GPS satellite IIR-M20 is one of two currently being processed for launch by
the 45th Launch Support Squadron.
The satellites travel on a C-17 aircraft the 1,000 miles from the Lockheed
Martin factory in Valley Forge, Pa. to the Cape. While in transit the 4,100
lb. spacecraft is stored in a container purged with nitrogen to remove any
moisture that might build up.
Lt. Col. John Wagner, 45 LCSS Commander, and Capt. Bill Bakker, Field
Program Manager for the IIR program, were at Valley Forge to monitor the
loading of the spacecraft. "Of course it was cold up there at this time of
year," said Captain Bakker, "we actually had to heat up the satellite right
there on the tarmac."
Colonel Wagner said, "The return flight of this spacecraft to the Cape is a
special day and a success story in itself. This was originally IIR-3,
damaged by rain on Complex 17 in May 1999 as it was being readied for
launch. The fact that the Cape team was able to safe this vehicle and the
program office and contractor team modernized it is a success for the
American taxpayer, and we will do our best to ensure it supports joint
forces worldwide for years to come."
The satellite that arrived last week is now located safely inside the DSCS
Processing Facility (DPF), where the 45th LCSS performs mission assurance
duties to safeguard the it said 1st Lt. Michael Knauf, field program manager
for the IIF program, which is replacing the IIR.
"We watch the contractors to ensure that safety precautions and every
technical process about the satellite is being met," he said.
As two of the final three IIR-M satellites are processed at the Cape, the
third remains at the factory and is being modified to deliver even more
accurate information to the warfighter.
These last three IIR-M satellites are the last in the planned series of
eight to be launched on Delta II boosters. Atlas V and Delta IV boosters
will be used to launch the follow-on, upgraded series of GPS spacecraft.
"The entire team is working hard to ensure mission success for the fly-out
of the last three GPS IIR-M satellites on Delta II boosters," said Lt. Col.
Ron Fortson, commander of the 1St Space Launch Squadron. "We take great
pride in launching GPS satellites to sustain the constellation that is
critical for military and civilian users."
Lieutenant Knauf is proud to help build the GPS network. "It's a pretty cool
fact that the world relies on GPS ... no matter which contractor the
spacecraft comes from, it all culminates at the Cape."
GPS is a space-based radio-positioning system that provides navigation and
timing information to military and civilian users worldwide.
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/080110-F-2679G-023.JPG
(2.8MB)]
Air Force and contractor personnel observe as GPS satellite IIR-M 20, safely
housed in its shipping container, is offloaded Jan. 10 at Cape Canaveral
AFS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tony Gray)
.
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