Boeing GPS rocket launch successful
By Eric Fleischauer, DAILY Business Writer (Tennessee)
Boeing Delta II rocket lifts off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday. The rocket carried a Global Positioning System spacecraft into orbit.
Your GPS may be a little more accurate soon, following the successful launch Monday of a Delta II rocket partially built in Decatur.
The Boeing Co. rocket launched a global positioning satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 1:50 p.m. CDT on Monday. The rocket successfully deployed the satellite.
The rocket was built for the U.S. Air Force mainly in Pueblo, Colo., but employees at the Decatur plant finalized construction and performed the inspections.
At a price tag of $75 million, the Lockheed Martin-built GPS2R-15 satellite is the second in an advanced class of GPS satellites that will transmit additional signals for greater accuracy and resistance to interference.
One purpose of the advanced GPS satellites is to increase the accuracy of GPS-guided weapons. The new class of satellites will also eliminate errors, caused by the ionosphere, for civilian users.
Once online, the satellite launched Monday will be the 30th operational GPS satellite. The GPS2R-15 is replacing a satellite launched in 1992.
After testing, the satellite will orbit 11,000 miles above the Earth.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the GPS market was $16 billion in 2003 and will grow to $68 billion by 2010.
The first stage of the Delta II rocket, built by Boeing, carried 10,000 gallons of a kerosene-based propellant and super-cold liquid oxygen, chilled to 298 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Aerojet built the second stage, and Thiokol built the third stage.
At its high point, the Delta II was 672 miles above the Earth. Nine minutes after takeoff, it was traveling at 15,400 miles per hour.
Boeing Delta II rocket lifts off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday. The rocket carried a Global Positioning System spacecraft into orbit. Your GPS may be a little more accurate soon, following the successful launch Monday of a Delta II rocket partially built in Decatur.
The Boeing Co. rocket launched a global positioning satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 1:50 p.m. CDT on Monday. The rocket successfully deployed the satellite.
The rocket was built for the U.S. Air Force mainly in Pueblo, Colo., but employees at the Decatur plant finalized construction and performed the inspections.
At a price tag of $75 million, the Lockheed Martin-built GPS2R-15 satellite is the second in an advanced class of GPS satellites that will transmit additional signals for greater accuracy and resistance to interference.
One purpose of the advanced GPS satellites is to increase the accuracy of GPS-guided weapons. The new class of satellites will also eliminate errors, caused by the ionosphere, for civilian users.
Once online, the satellite launched Monday will be the 30th operational GPS satellite. The GPS2R-15 is replacing a satellite launched in 1992.
After testing, the satellite will orbit 11,000 miles above the Earth.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the GPS market was $16 billion in 2003 and will grow to $68 billion by 2010.
The first stage of the Delta II rocket, built by Boeing, carried 10,000 gallons of a kerosene-based propellant and super-cold liquid oxygen, chilled to 298 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Aerojet built the second stage, and Thiokol built the third stage.
At its high point, the Delta II was 672 miles above the Earth. Nine minutes after takeoff, it was traveling at 15,400 miles per hour.
posted by gab admin at 10:37 AM 
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home