The United States Air Force (USAF) said that its GPS IIF-9 is all set to be launched on Wednesday, March 25, from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The GPS satellite will be launched aboard United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket at 2:36 pm EDT. The rocket will deliver the satellite to semi-synchronous circular orbit.

As per experts, the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of satellites that provides navigation data to military and civilian users worldwide.

The system is operated and controlled by the 50th Space Wing which is located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

Jim Sponnick, VP, Atlas and Delta Programs, said, “The ULA team is proud to be the launch provider for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Global Positioning System (GPS) Directorate by delivering replenishment satellites aboard Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles”.

GPS IIF-9 is the next generation GPS satellite, which has been improved and advanced to provide greater accuracy, increased signals, and enhanced performances for users.

According to USAF, GPA utilizes 24 satellites, in six different planes, with a minimum of four satellites per plane, positioned in orbit approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface.

The satellite continuously transmits digital radio signals pertaining to the exact time and exact location of the satellites.

The GPS IIF series have a design life of 12 years. Users with the proper equipment can receive these signals to calculate time, location and velocity.

The signals sent by the satellite are so accurate that time can be measured to within a millionth of a second, velocity within a fraction of a mile per hour, and location to within feet.

The ULA team is concentrating on attaining Perfect Product Delivery for the GPS IIF-9 mission, which includes a relentless focus on mission success and excellence and continuous improvement in meeting all the needs of their customers.