The US Air Force launched the first of a new fleet of advanced global positioning system (GPS) satellites on 28 May. The new satellite, GPS 2F-1, has twice the accuracy of previous navigation satellites and a stronger signal capacity.

The solar-powered craft is designed for a 12-year mission and is the first of 12 satellites engineered to provide around-the-clock, ultra-precise navigation and timing services for civilian and military uses.

"These next-generation satellites provide improved accuracy through advanced atomic clocks, a more jam-resistant military signal and a longer design life than earlier GPS satellites,” Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, which built the new satellite, said.

He added that the system would include a new civil signal to assist aviation safety and search-and-rescue efforts.