[Satellite Today – 4-3-08] Lockheed Martin has completed work on the last satellite in the U.S. Air Force’s Global Positioning System Block 2R constellation, Lockheed Martin announced April 3. Work was completed less than a year after the Air Force awarded the contract and a month ahead of schedule, Lockheed Martin said.
    Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the GPS 2R program and has designed and built 21 2R spacecraft for the Air Force. The final eight spacecraft, designated GPS 2R-M, were modernized to enhance operations and navigation signal performance for military and civilian GPS users, including a demonstration payload that will transmit a new civil signal known as L5. ITT supplied all 21 navigation payloads for both the 2R and 2R-M spacecraft as well as the L5 demonstration payload components.
    The satellite will be delivered to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for a scheduled June launch.