A 70 percent chance of favorable weather conditions exists on Wednesday for a Delta 2-GPS IIR-17 rocket carrying a Global Positioning Satellite. The launch window is between 8:23 and 8:38 a.m. EDT.
Riding a Delta 2 rocket with nine strap-on solid rocket boosters, the satellite will enter an orbit 11,000 miles above the earth. The satellite will become part of a constellation of 24 GPS satellites completed in 1994 to provide accurate navigation assistance to boaters, hikers, aircraft, the military and other users.
The GPS IIR-17 could be the 77th consecutive Delta 2 rocket to deliver its payload safely. In 130 Delta flights since 1989, 128 have been successful. The last failure was January 1997, when a Delta II rocket exploded shortly after launch from Cape Canaveral, due to a cracked solid rocket motor. At least 25 Delta 2 rockets are scheduled to fly during the next several years.
Look for live coverage Wednesday morning in The Flame Trench.
See details in the mission booklet.
FACTS ABOUT GPS:
-The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
-A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
-Each satellite is built to last about 10 years.
-Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
-A GPS satellite is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
-Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.
GPS flight profile. Click to enlarge.
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