Dan Hart: Boeing Preps for Next GPS IIF Launch as 8th Satellite Joins Constellation

Boeing‘s GPS Space Vehicle-69 satellite has joined the 31-satellite GPS System IIF constellation after almost two months of on-orbit checkout and validation as part of the U.S. Air Force‘s network modernization efforts.

The company said Thursday this is the eighth of 12 planned GPS IIF satellites and the fourth launched this year to support a growing number of users and bolster GPS signals.

“We continue to support today’s GPS mission, and are looking forward to delivering the remaining four GPS IIF satellites into service,” said Dan Hart, vice president of government space systems for Boeing’s network and space systems business.

Boeing said the GPS IIF satellites feature anti-jamming functions, an atomic clock and a third civil signal.