Boeing Delta II Delivers Another GPS Satellite To Orbit

A Boeing Delta II launch vehicle has successfully delivered to orbit a replenishment Block IIR Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite for the U.S. Air Force. The Delta II rocket carrying the GPS IIR-16 (M) satellite lifted off from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 2:12 p.m. Eastern time, deploying the satellite to a transfer orbit 68 minutes later.

The Delta II, known as the workhorse of the launch industry in its payload class, has launched all of the GPS IIR satellites. The launch also marked the second GPS mission aboard a Boeing Delta II in less than two months. GPS IIR-15 lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Sept. 25.