Boeing has received the first on-orbit signals from the US Air Force (USAF) second global positioning system (GPS) IIF-2.
GPS IIF-2, renamed SVN-63, was launched on 16 July 2011 and the signals confirm the satellite is functioning normally.
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The GPS signals from the spacecraft payload will be used for test purposes in the coming weeks and the company will begin on-orbit manoeuvres and operational testing on the satellite.
SVN-63 will be officially transferred to USAF 50th Space Wing and the 2nd Space Operations Squadron this fall after the spacecraft completes on-orbit checkout.
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems vice-president and general manager Craig Cooning said the GPS IIF through improved atomic clock technology provides increased accuracy and a more jam-resistant military signal.
The satellites also provide increased secure civilian signal to help commercial airline operations and search-and-rescue missions, Cooning added.
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By GlobalDataBoeing is building 12 of the satellites for USAF.
