Atlas V to launch GPS satellite Wednesday

CAPE CANAVERAL — United Launch Alliance on Wednesday will attempt the first launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station since SpaceX suffered a proverbial "bad day" just over two weeks ago.

ULA's Atlas V rocket, launching for the 55th time without a major failure, is targeting an 11:36 a.m. ET liftoff with the latest addition to the U.S. military's best-known satellite constellation: the Global Positioning System.

Air Force officials said the disintegration of SpaceX's Falcon 9 more than two minutes into a June 28 launch for NASA prompted a check of any similar components that rocket might share with the Atlas V, which was cleared for flight.

"What we have done is a robust and rigorous cross-look, cross-walk of any component that could potentially be a problem for our launch that's coming up," said Col. Alvin Burse, the mission director from the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles.

Similarly, the 45th Space Wing determined that Eastern Range systems responsible for tracking and potentially destroying rockets to protect public safety played no role in the Falcon 9 mishap, and were ready to support the Atlas V launch.

"We can say with confidence that we've been able to exonerate all of the Range systems," said Lt. Col. Tom Ste. Marie, deputy commander of the 45th Operations Group.

Like the Falcon 9, the Atlas V is being prepared to launch astronauts from Florida as soon as 2017, so its performance now has implications not only for high-value national security and science payloads but for human spaceflight.

Wednesday's mission continues the Air Force's refresh of the GPS fleet, which became a fully global service for military and civilian uses 20 years ago this month.

"This is truly a historic milestone for GPS," said Col. Michael Rokaw, the Global Positioning Systems Directorate's Space Systems Division chief. "New ways to utilize GPS technology are emerging daily."

Maps and directions provided by smartphones, cars and other devices may be the most popular civilian use of the technology, which provides highly accurate position, navigation and timing information around the world.

The $245 million satellite set for launch is the 10th in a group of a dozen built by Boeing and labeled Block IIF, or 2F. The next in the series is expected to follow in October, and the last by February.

The new satellite will join a GPS constellation with 31 active members orbiting in six planes more than 12,000 miles up. Its arrival will allow a 19-year-old satellite to be moved into backup status.

If schedules hold, ULA plans to follow Wednesday's launch with another in just a week. A Delta IV rocket is targeting liftoff with a military communications satellite from the Cape on July 22.

Launch details

Rocket: United Launch Alliance Atlas V ("401" configuration)

Mission: Air Force's 10th Global Positioning System IIF series satellite

Launch Time: 11:36 a.m.

Launch Window: 18 minutes

Launch Complex: 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Launch Weather: 70% "go"