The U.S. Air Force successfully launched a rocket carrying the third Global Positioning System IIF satellite on Thursday from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The satellite was attached to a United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket.
“The 45th Space Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center’s GPS Directorate, Boeing and United Launch Alliance team are proud to launch the third installment of the GPS Block IIF,” said Col. Robert Pavelko, vice commander, 45th Space Wing commander.
The first GPS IIF satellite, Space Vehicle 1, was launched by a Delta IV rocket in 2010 and the second in 2011.
The GPS Block IIF satellites are built by Boeing, and will be operated by the United States Air Force following their launch by United Launch Alliance, using Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles.
GPS satellites are launched at a rate to sustain the constellation to continue providing extremely accurate positioning, navigation and timing services to billions of users worldwide.
