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Delta 2 Rocket Launches 50th GPS Satellite

Posted by timothy on from the more-to-choose-from dept.

wetshoe writes "This CNN article reports that 'the 50th U.S. Global Positioning Satellite has lifted off aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket.' It was sent into space to replace an aging GPS satellite. One more reason why geocaching is so much fun."

2 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. Geocaching by rkz · · Score: 5, Interesting
    My enjoyment everyday comes in the form of looking forward to the weekend when I spend my free time geocaching with my friends or myself.

    Its just you (and maybe some friends), no real pressure. Plus its an actual trek (ranges from in-city, to some caches are ones that need Scuba or moutain gear or whatever).

    And with geocaching you've just got your GPS, a compass, and maybe a topographic map (if you can get one). None of this fancy cell phones with internet to tell you answers stuff ;-)

    --
    There is no god
  2. Re:space junk? by daraf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm not sure how much fuel is required to break orbit and send a satellite to the sun, but I'm pretty sure that an old GPS I satellite doesn't have it. It's easier just to slow the satellite down a bit so it burns up in the atmosphere as it falls to earth, which is what they do. Every US Air Force satellite that goes up nowadays has some sort of end-of-life plan.