U.S. Air Force launches Magellan satellite

The U.S. Air Force’s Magellan satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, was launched into orbit last week from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The GPS III Space Vehicle 02, nicknamed “Magellan” by the Air Force, will be in orbit about 12,550 miles above the earth. Engineers at Lockheed Martin Space’s Waterton, Colo., facility are commanding the satellite using elements of the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) Block 0.

“GPS III SV02 is receiving and responding to commands just as planned. In the days ahead, we’ll finish orbit raising to our operational slot and then send the satellite commands telling it to deploy its solar arrays and antennas,” Johnathon Caldwell, Lockheed Martin Space’s vice president for navigation systems, said. “Once we are set up, we’ll begin on-orbit checkout and tests, including extensive signals testing with our advanced navigation payload.”

GPS III SV02 is the second GPS III satellite built by Lockheed Martin to be used put into orbit by the Air Force. GPS III satellites provide greater accuracy and improved anti-jamming capabilities. On Dec. 23, 2018, the Air Force launched GPS III SV01 – or the “Vespucci” satellite.

“GPS III SV01’s performance exceeded expectations during testing,” Caldwell said. “On July 12, we officially completed all On Orbit Check Out & Test activities. We are excited to see this satellite move to the next phase and perform in an operational environment.”

With GPS III SV01 and SV02 now on orbit, GPS III SV03 is awaiting a launch date. Further, GPS III SV04-08 are now in various stages of assembly and test. In all, Lockheed Martin is under contract to build up to 32 GPS III/IIIF satellites for the Air Force.