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Launch marks new era for GPS, Delta II

A new era for the Global Positioning System began July 22 when a Delta II launch vehicle lifted an improved next-generation satellite into space at 11:43 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla.

The acquisition and development of this $43 million Block IIR satellite--the first to be successfully placed into orbit--was managed by the Space and Missile Systems Center's NAVSTAR GPS Joint Program Office at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

Col. James Armor, director of the NAVSTAR GPS JPO, said the launch was an exciting first step toward the future of the GPS constellation.

"This launch of the new Block IIR satellite is extremely important to GPS," Armor said. "The Air Force is committed to maintaining this valuable navigation aid for military and civilian users throughout the world. This particular Block IIR satellite is the first of what will become the replacement for our current constellation."

The new space satellite, built by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, boasts dramatic improvements over the previous Block IIA satellites at approximately a 33-percent reduction in cost per unit. This includes the ability to determine its own position by performing inter-satellite ranging with other IIR space vehicles. It also features reprogrammable processors that enable problem fixes, upgrades in flight, and increased satellite autonomy and radiation hardness.

Additionally, the Air Force can launch the Block IIR into any required GPS orbit (with a 60-day advanced notice and dependent upon launch vehicle availability), and requires fewer ground contacts to maintain the constellation. All of these improvements increase accuracy for GPS users.

While this launch replaces no specific satellite in the GPS constellation, it will undergo approximately 120 days of on-orbit developmental testing and serve as a spare. The last Block IIA satellite is currently in storage and Air Force officials forecast its launch in late 1997. The Air Force has already awarded a contract for the post-Block IIR satellite, the Block IIF, with the expected first launch in 2002.

The launch was the first Air Force flight of the McDonnell Douglas Corp.-built Delta II since an attempt to launch the first GPS IIR satellite exploded shortly after liftoff Jan. 17. An Air Force-led Safety Investigation Board has been at work since that mishap to ensure successful Air Force Delta launches would resume.

Delta II Flight Systems Assurance Chief Lt. Col. James Gazur participated on a committee to make recommendations about mitigating the effects of the accident. As the SIB Fault Isolation Team chief, Gazur helped ensure potential failures were thoroughly analyzed and that crucial data flowed between the Delta II team and the investigation boards. Gazur's team also extensively tested existing solid rocket motors in the Delta fleet to prevent another mishap.

Gazur also played an important role during the current launch, keeping the Launch Programs and Delta II teams informed about SIB recommendations and helping the new Delta II program manager transition into his new role.

Col. John Buzzatto, SMC's Launch Programs deputy system program director, said July's successful launch resulted from the tireless efforts of the Delta II team members tasked with getting Delta rockets flying again.

"Our Launch Programs, Delta II and Aerospace Corp. people undertook actions to get the Delta II program on the road to recovery within minutes of January's incident," Buzzatto said. "Those efforts, in concert with McDonnell Douglas' and Alliant Techsystem's Delta II experts and the 1st Space Launch Squadron, are the reason we were safely able to get the Delta II program successfully launching another GPS satellite just six months after the accident."

The launch was the first for new Delta II Program Manager Lt. Col. Doug Van Mullem, who comes from the Titan IV program. "Thanks to Lt. Col. Gazur and the top-notch people in our organization, I was able to learn a lot about what it takes to launch these quality rockets," Van Mullem said.

"I see a lot of similarities between the Delta and Titan programs-mostly how both have been able to overcome adversity through hard work and teaming to continue serving our Air Force space customers. The Delta II team is confident that we are prepared to support our customers with the continued highest success rate in the industry."