[Satellite Today 06-22-09] The U.S. Air Force‘s space acquisition center reported that a GPS satellite, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp., launched in March, is not performing as well as expected, the U.S. Air Force announced June 16.
    The Air Force said glitches in the satellite’s performance could complicate deployment of a new series of Boeing GPS 2F satellites currently being built that also feature the L5 signal, designed for use by U.S. air-traffic control systems. The Air Force statement follows a negative report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) over the strength of the U.S. military’s GPS system. That report has been criticized by the Air Force.
    Several U.S. military GPS contracts are in play for both companies. The first of Boeing’s GPS 2F satellites, incorporating the new civilian signal, is slated to launch late this year or early 2010.
    In May 2008, Lockheed won a contract over its competitor, Boeing, worth at least $1.8 billion to build the GPS III satellite system, scheduled to go into operation around 2015.