The Air Force on Feb. 5 launched the final block of its Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite, marking the end of one constellation's generation and the long-awaited start of the next: GPS III.
United Launch Alliance successfully launched the GPS IIF-12 satellite on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, joining dozens of other satellites in the program.
"Today's launch marks a momentous milestone in the history of the Global Positioning System. It is the twelfth and last GPS IIF satellite and closes out nearly 27 years of launches for the GPS Block II family of satellites," Col. Shawn Fairhurst, Air Force 45th Space Wing vice commander, said in an Air Force release. "As the nation's premier gateway to space, we are proud to be part of the team providing GPS and its capabilities to the world and look forward to the future as we begin preparation for the next generation of GPS III satellites. Together with the Space and Missile Systems Center and our industry partners, we make up one team delivering assured space launch and combat capabilities for the nation."
That delivery of GPS III will send into orbit advanced GPS satellites expected to improve accuracy, reliability and security of the global position system that military and civilian users rely on every day.
When those GPS III satellites will launch, however, remains in question.
The GPS IIF-12 launch comes just days after the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $94 million contract modification providing contingency operations for GPS III satellites ahead of the Air Force's Next Generation Operational Control System, or OCX, actually being in place, according to Defense Systems. The OCX program is expected to launch 32 GPS III satellites, but that's been delayed past the expected 2017 deadline amid program troubles.
In December, Air Force Space Commander Gen. John Hyten called the OCX program, contracted to Raytheon, a "disaster" that has ballooned to $1.6 billion in costs and become bogged down with cybersecurity concerns and contractor performance issues, according to published reports.
"The OCX program is a disaster, just a disaster, and it's embarrassing to have to stand in front of people and try to defend it, so I won't," Hyten said, per a Reuters report. "When you start down a path and you basically can't deliver and you keep pushing the system out to the right, and you keep pouring money at it, and the contractor does not deliver, you're in a tough spot."
As Air Force leadership looks at options for correcting the OCX program, the GPS IIF-12 satellite is expected to bridge gaps and improve on existing capabilities, Air Force officials said during a webcast of the launch.
