WASHINGTON — The launch of the fifth in the current generation of positioning, navigation and timing satellites for the U.S. Air Force, scheduled for Oct. 23, has been postponed for unspecified reasons, according to a spokeswoman for the service.
The GPS 2F-5 satellite originally was slated to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 4 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Oct. 17. But that date was pushed back to Oct. 23 in recent weeks.
Air Force 2nd Lt. Alicia Wallace, deputy chief of public affairs for the service’s 45th Space Wing, confirmed the delay but could not offer further details, including when the launch may be rescheduled.
Jessica Rye, a spokeswoman for United Launch Alliance, referred questions to the Air Force.
The satellite, built by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems of El Segundo, Calif., arrived at the Cape Sept. 1.
The GPS 2F satellites provide better accuracy and more resistance to jamming than the previous generation of GPS satellites, most of which are still in operation.
The Air Force successfully launched its fourth GPS 2F satellite from Cape Canaveral May 15.
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