ULA - Atlas V rocket / GPS IIF-4 satellite patch.
May 16, 2013
Image above: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-41 carrying the fourth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-4 satellite for the U.S. Air Force at 5:38 p.m. EDT today from Space Launch Complex-41. Credits: Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.
An Atlas 5 rocket successfully powered a replacement Global Positioning System satellite into space Wednesday to bolster the navigation utility for military and civil users around the world.
ULA Atlas V Launch - May 15, 2013
The Centaur upper stage completed its second burn and released the Global Positioning System 2F-4 satellite into the navigation network to complete tonight's launch of the Atlas 5 rocket.
After coasting for three hours to a point nearly 11,000 nautical miles above the planet south of Australia, the RL10 upper stage engine was re-ignited for a 90-second burn to circularize the orbit. The Boeing-built payload was deployed minutes later.
GPS 2F-4 satellite
It is another successful flight for the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 vehicle, which has completed 38 missions in the past decade, 9 in just the past 12 months and four this year.
"The ULA team is honored to place another next-generation GPS satellite on orbit for our US Air Force customer," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations.
"Today's successful delivery of the GPS IIF-4 mission represents the 70th launch success in the 77 months since ULA was formed – an accomplishment made possible by seamless integration of the customer and industry team; reliable production and launch operation processes; and a one-launch-at-a-time focus on mission success for these critical space assets."
For more information about United Launch Alliance (ULA), visit: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/default.shtml
Images, Video, Text, Credits: United Launch Alliance (ULA) / Pat Corkery / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
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