US Air Force activates “The Launch of GPS IIF” STEM project

A message from the US Air Force Collaboratory:

U.S. Air Force Activates “The Launch of GPS IIF” Project
Students and innovators called to collaborate in launch of next generation satellite

LOS ANGELES, October 16, 2013 – The Air Force Collaboratory is now open for its third and final project, “The Launch of GPS IIF.” Students, educators and innovators with an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are invited to submit their ideas to solve real world Air Force challenges on the interactive online platform. Technological advances from the project will enhance navigation and detection capabilities and can save lives in combat, search and rescue, and humanitarian missions.

More than 2,000 ideas were submitted by participants in the first two Collaboratory projects, “Search and Rescue 2.0” and “Mind of a Quadrotor.” Contributors, whether new or returning, are asked to bring ideas to “The Launch of GPS IIF” project, to determine the most effective location to launch the Air Force’s newest GPS satellite. “The Launch of GPS IIF” began on October 10, 2013, and will remain open through November 30.

The GPS IIF series is the next generation of Air Force GPS satellites. These advanced satellites are an integral part of a spacebased navigation system giving threedimensional location, velocity and timing information for GPS users around the world. “The Launch of GPS IIF” will test students and other collaborators to target the precise coordinates within the 27 new and legacy GPS satellites to launch the Air Force’s newest $225 million GPS satellite. More innovative and unique ideas brought to the Air Force will help to find solutions to get nextgeneration satellites launched and operational.

“The Launch of GPS IIF” is the third and final of the Collaboratory projects planned for 2013. The first project, “Search and Rescue 2.0,” opened on August 1 and asked contributors to submit plans to locate, stabilize or transport victims trapped in collapsed structures. The second project, “Mind of a Quadrotor,” challenges participants to create an autonomous quadrotor that can navigate with minimal human interaction and opened on September 1. “Mind of a Quadrotor” remains active through October 31.

To find out more and to submit ideas to The Air Force Collaboratory, visit airforce.com/collaboratory.

About the United States Air Force
The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to fly, fight and win in Air, Space and Cyberspace. In 2013, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring more than 26,000 new Airmen. An emphasis is on recruiting people with no prior military service into one of about 140 enlisted career opportunities. The Air Force continues to bring in quality men and women because it matters. The Air Force recruits the brightest candidates possible and provides them with tough, highly technical training that gives them the right skills to sustain the combat capability of America’s Air Force. For more information about Air Force benefits and opportunities, go to www.airforce.com.

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