Update, GPS Launch Delayed Again: The Air Force had to postpone Sunday night’s launch of the Boeing-built GPS IIF satellite to provide mission managers additional time to validate the fix put in place after the postponement of Friday night’s launch. Before Friday’s launch, they discovered a telemetry signal issue between the satellite and ground support equipment. The launch had been delayed from a May 20 launch due to a problem with some ground support equipment. The new launch window is 11:13 p.m. to 11:31 p.m. EDT May 24 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (Patrick AFB, Fla., May 22 media announcement; May 23 media announcement)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.