The sound of applause erupted as the 2nd and 19th Space Operations Squadrons and their mission partners celebrated the 25th anniversary of satellite vehicle number 23, the Global Positioning System’s oldest operational satellite, at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, Wednesday, Dec. 2.
“This is most notable because the vehicle was designed to last seven and a half years and we’re just over three times its design life,” said Capt. Aaron Blain, 2 SOPS GPS Mission Analysis Flight commander. “Twenty-five is just an awe-inspiring number for a satellite that should have died so many times before.”
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