[10-17-07 – Satellite Today]  The fourth GPS Block 2R, built by Lockheed Martin, was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 launch vehicle, Lockheed Martin announced Oct. 17.

The satellite, GPS 2R-17M, is the fourth of eight Block 2R-M spacecraft modernized by Lockheed Martin for the Global Positioning Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Each satellite includes a modernized antenna panel, two new military signals, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities and a second civil signal to provide users with an open access signal on a different frequency.

The satellite joins three 2R-M satellites and 12 other Block 2R satellites within the 28-spacecraft GPS constellation.