The fifth GPS IIF satellite arrived at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., for its anticipated launch into orbit in October, announced Boeing on Tuesday. A C-17 carried GPS IIF-5 from Boeing’s satellite manufacturing facility in El Segundo, Calif., to the cape last month, states the company’s Sept. 17 release. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket is slated to carry the navigation satellite into space. GPS-IIF-4 began operations on orbit earlier this year.
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.