Photo: Wikipedia
The world of GPS tracking continues to receive much needed replacements for antiquated GPS II-A satellites launched during the 1990’s. On August 1, a United Launch Atlas 5 rocket successfully launched the third of 4 new satellites set to be launched in 2014–all part of a series of twelve new GPS satellites.
The new GPS-IIF satellites, manufactured by Boeing, come with multiple advantages over their 1990’s predecessors, including:
- Improved atomic time signals for more accurate reporting data
- An added signal for civilian use–to be used as a GPS signal for aircraft travel. (This signal is known as L5, which began broadcasting in April)
- Medium-Earth orbit
The newly launched satellite is undergoing a few weeks of testing by the Air Force to assure that it is fully functional before being placed into service.
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Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2014/08/03/the-seventh-next-gen-gps-satellite-is-now-in-orbit/
