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On October 4, 2012 United Launch Alliance (ULA) sent the third Block IIF Global Positioning System (GPS IIF-3) satellite on its way to orbit atop a Delta IV Medium+(4,2) rocket (flight number D361) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37B (SLC-37B) located in Florida. Upon reaching orbit the spacecraft was redesignated USA-239. The mission got underway just a little before ULA celebrated the 10th anniversary of the inaugural flight of the Delta IV rocket. The GPS satellites were built by Boeing (on the AS-4000 Bus) and are operated by the U.S. Air Force. Each of the spacecraft has a mass of approximately 3,590 lbs (1,630 kilograms) and has a planned design life of about 12 years. The GPS IIF constellation resides in a Medium-Earth orbit (MEO). GPS IIF is meant as a replacement to the GPS IIA system (the last of these spacecraft were decommissioned on January 25, 2016 with the operational constellation now consisting of several GPS satellites – including the Block IIF. Photos courtesy: Carleton Bailie
