L5 Demo Satellite Scheduled for Launch in June
http://sidt.gpsworld.com/gpssidt/content/printContentPopup.jsp?id=488026
Jan 30, 2008
GPS World
The U.S. Air Force has scheduled the launch of the modernized GPS
Block IIR satellite that will host an L5 demonstration payload for
June 30 of this year.
According to a recent presentation by Col. Mark Crews, chief engineer
at the Air Force's GPS Wing, Los Angeles Air Force Base, satellite
Block IIR-20(M), dubbed SVN48, will be headed for orbital slot B2. It
is the second GPS satellite launch scheduled for the year; IIR-19(M),
or SVN49, has been scheduled for launch on March 13 and an orbital
slot of A4. The last modernized Bock IIR satellite, IIR-21 (SVN50),
is slated to head into orbit on September 11, 2008, into slot C2.
IIR-20(M) will temporarily broadcast a third civilian signal,
broadcast on the L5 frequency. Part of the modernization program for
GPS, the next round of satellites -- Block IIF and Block III
-- will incorporate the L5 signal, which will be reserved for
aviation and safety-of-life applications.