The race to space is still a global phenomenon, with more studies emerging every year about the world beyond our own. As technology emerges, satellites are equipped with more gadgets and tools to make research possible.
SpaceX launched the U.S. Air Force’s most powerful GPS satellite ever created. A Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, December 23, 2018, shooting the satellite into orbit. The satellite, which was meant to take off Tuesday, December 18, 2018, was delayed due to poor weather conditions.
Heather Wilson, secretary of the Air Force, says “This next-generation GPS satellite is three times more accurate than previous versions and eight times better at anti-jamming. It’s the first in a series and nicknamed Vespucci after the 15th-century Italian explorer who calculated Earth’s circumference to within 50 miles (80 kilometers).”
Lockheed Martin, the driving force behind the development of advanced GPS technology, is currently building satellites at a facility near Denver for use in the years to come.
The launch December 23rd was SpaceX’s 21st and final launch of the year as well as a company record.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense
