Deadline Looms as GPS Satellites Await Launch Opportunity

摘要

U.S. Air Force officials are assessing launch schedules to make sure a GPS navigation satellite delayed at least nine months by launch vehicle problems is in orbit by August 2009. The delay should not impact GPS services, Air Force officials said in a written statement. Instead, they are focused on the August deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union to preserve a radio spectrum reservation for the GPS 2F-series satellites scheduled to launch beginning in 2009. The Geneva-based organization, a United Nations affiliate, coordinates satellite frequencies and orbital slots internationally.