Working Well, Thank You, Says Lockheed Martin + U.S.A.F.

A combined U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team has completed a rapid on-orbit deployment of the modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite that was launched on March 15th from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft, which includes new features that enhance operations and navigation signal performance, has been declared operational for military and civilian navigation users worldwide. Lockheed Martin‘s operations team assisted Air Force Space Command‘s 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) and its Reserve associate unit 19 SOPS based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, with the launch and early orbit maneuvers. The record on-orbit deployment and checkout of all spacecraft systems and subsequent payload initialization was completed in just over nine days, allowing 2SOPS to set the spacecraft healthy for users around the globe.