New GPS Satellite’s Delivery Slips Again Over Untested Component
- Lockheed satellite at least 32 Months late to U.S. Air Force
- August delivery missed after discovery a part wasn’t checked
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The U.S. Air Force’s first new GPS satellite, already 28 months late, missed its most recent delivery date last month and won’t be shipped until at least December because a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin Corp. failed to conduct testing on a key part years ago.
Testing of the part, a ceramic capacitor, should have been completed as long as five years ago, including evaluating how long it will operate without failing, said Colonel Steve Whitney, program manager for the Global Positioning Satellite program. About 600 of these capacitors are on the initial satellite, which cost approximately $529 million.