Article Posted on : - Aug 23, 2011

An artistic representation of Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite. Photo: Boeing.

EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA (BNS): The second of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites Boeing is building for the US Air Force (USAF) has achieved operational acceptance and entered service.

GPS IIF-2, now called SVN-63, is the newest satellite to join the active 31-satellite GPS constellation operated by the Air Force 50th Space Wing and the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

"The Air Force and allied military forces around the world use GPS devices in virtually every system to improve their capabilities and effectiveness while reducing risk to the warfighter. This next-generation GPS IIF satellite has been set healthy and is ready to begin providing a strong, clear and secure signal," Air Force Col. Bernard Gruber, director of the GPS Directorate, was quoted as saying in the Boeing news release.

Boeing is responsible for the GPS ground and space segments, providing an integrated system solution for GPS IIF and for the operation of the entire constellation. The company has delivered 40 spacecraft that are successfully populating and sustaining the GPS system.