CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite has been launched into space.
An unmanned Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station shortly before midnight Friday.
The rocket carried a GPS 2F-7 spacecraft which will join a constellation of other satellites already orbiting 11,000 miles above Earth. The GPS satellite will provide navigation for both military and civilian users.
This was the second launch from Cape Canaveral this week. A Delta 4 rocket lifted off on Monday, carrying a pair of military satellites.
The craft, when it becomes operational, will replace a 17-year-old satellite. The older satellite will be used as a back-up for the new one.