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)
Fresh off its most ambitious test yet of an autonomous cargo plane, the Air Force is preparing to go even bigger by deploying and operating another such aircraft for an entire year.
