* Astronomy

The United Launch Alliance has released photographs of the launch of GPS IIR-21(M), the last in a line of eight GPS IIR-M spacecraft. The satellite was launched aboard a Delta II rocket on August 17 at 6:35 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Source

A new military global positioning satellite is heading to orbit after a dawn lift off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The two-ton satellite lifted off aboard a Delta 2 rocket on Monday around 6:30 a.m. An hour after launch, it moved into a highly elliptical orbit to replace a decade-old GPS 2R-21 spacecraft that will be used as a backup for the new satellite.

Read more

TLE Data

GPS2R21
1 35752U 09043A   09229.48435112 -.00000058  00000-0  00000+0 0    26
2 35752 040.0131 273.0058 6051166 015.6986 357.3453 04.03671302    04

The 48th successful and final Air Force Delta II Global Positioning System satellite launch occurred today, ending one of the most successful space launch programs in American history. A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket launched GPS IIR-21(M) into orbit from Space Launch Complex-17A at 6:35 a.m., EDT today. The first Air Force Delta II GPS launch occurred Feb. 14, 1989 and today's launch marked the 48th successful GPS mission giving the program a 98 percent success rate. The first launch in 1989 was NAVSTAR II-1. NAVSTAR is now commonly known as GPS.
Following a nominal 1 hour and 8 minute flight, the rocket deployed the GPS IIR-21(M) spacecraft, the eighth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block II R-M military navigation satellite. GPS is a space-based positioning system designed and operated as a 24-satellite constellation that provides precision navigation and timing information to military and civilian users worldwide.

Read more