Posted: Tue, Nov 12, 2002, 7:32 AM ET (1232 GMT)
Boeing announced Monday that it has won approval from the US Air Force to begin work on the first three next-generation GPS spacecraft. Boeing will begin production of the first three GPS 2F spacecraft at the Boeing Satellite Systems facility in El Segundo, California. GPS 2F, compatible with existing GPS spacecraft, features additional civilian and military signals and will last 20 percent longer in orbit than previous GPS spacecraft. GPS 2F is intended to be an interim step before the Air Force moves ahead with GPS 3, a more advanced series of spacecraft that will not be ready until at least the end of the decade. GPS 2F spacecraft will be launched on EELV boosters starting in mid-decade.

Related Links:

•  Boeing press release