Update, GPS Launch Delayed Again: The Air Force had to postpone Sunday night’s launch of the Boeing-built GPS IIF satellite to provide mission managers additional time to validate the fix put in place after the postponement of Friday night’s launch. Before Friday’s launch, they discovered a telemetry signal issue between the satellite and ground support equipment. The launch had been delayed from a May 20 launch due to a problem with some ground support equipment. The new launch window is 11:13 p.m. to 11:31 p.m. EDT May 24 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (Patrick AFB, Fla., May 22 media announcement; May 23 media announcement)
The $4.26 billion Small Business Innovation Research contracting program widely used by the Air Force went into hibernation as the government shut down Oct. 1, but unless lawmakers strike a deal on reforms, the program could reach an abrupt end.


