This mission, designated IIR-10, places on orbit a satellite featuring significant performance upgrades, including an advanced antenna panel which will increase power for GPS receivers.

The GPS satellite, which will orbit nearly 11,000 miles above the Earth, was launched aboard a Delta II 7925-9.5 vehicle. The next Delta mission will carry the NASA Aura Earth Observing System spacecraft. The launch is scheduled for March 2004 aboard a Delta II from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

"Our Delta team has done an outstanding job in supporting the customer, by providing absolute mission assurance," said Dan Collins, vice president and general manager, Delta Programs, for Boeing. "This successful 302nd Delta launch re-affirms our pride in being a part of the GPS program, which is so vital to our nation's national security."

Operated by U.S. Air Force Space Command, the GPS constellation provides precise navigation and timing to worldwide military and civilian users 24- hours a day and in all weather conditions. For the warfighter, GPS has enabled the development and use of cost-effective precision guided munitions, and is considered a major component of DoD's transformational plans.

GPS IIR satellites are designed to improve global coverage and increase the overall performance of the GPS constellation. Lockheed Martin has delivered 21 of these satellites to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. There are now nine new-generation GPS IIR spacecraft currently on orbit out of a total GPS constellation of 28 satellites. Eleven more IIR satellites will be launched to sustain the GPS constellation.

"The GPS IIR program is a great example of how teamwork and technology come together to provide a wide range of military and civilian uses for navigation and precision-timing applications, said Dave Podlesney, GPS IIR Program Director, Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Valley Forge, Pa.

"We take great pride in achieving mission success for our Air Force customer and look forward to delivering another high performance spacecraft to our men and women in uniform, as well as for civil, scientific, and commercial users around the globe."

The GPS IIR satellites are compatible with the current system and provide improved navigation accuracy, achieved by using an ITT Industries payload system. Additionally, increased autonomy and longer spacecraft life are inherent in the new design.

To bring new capabilities to the GPS constellation, Lockheed Martin is under contract to modernize eight existing GPS IIR spacecraft already built and in storage. These spacecraft, designated GPS IIR-M, will incorporate two new military signals and a second civil signal, thus providing military and civilian users of the navigation system with improved capabilities much sooner than previously envisioned.

GPS modernization is being performed at the Space & Strategic Missiles -- Valley Forge, Pa. Facilities and ITT Industries, Clifton, N.J. facilities. The first launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite is scheduled for December 2004. The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting agency.

Lockheed Martin is also leading a team to develop the U.S. Air Force's next generation Global Positioning System satellite, GPS III. The team, which includes Spectrum Astro, Raytheon, ITT, and General Dynamics, is currently preparing for the GPS III Phase A competition.

GPS III will address the challenging military transformational and civil needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved system security and accuracy, and reliability. The new satellite system will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for positioning and timing services. The team selected to meet this challenge will provide system and sustaining engineering, satellite development and production, Control Segment upgrades, and continuous research and development for this evolutionary system.

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