IS-GPS-200E: Flexing Power and Fixing Phase Ambiguities

High-precision users of GNSS are used to solving for carrier phase integer ambiguities, but the recent publication of a GPS technical document has fixed a different kind of phase ambiguity — a linguistic one

SVN62, the First GPS IIF Satellite, Is Set Healthy

The U.S. Air Force declared the first GPS Block IIF satellite (SVN62) operational today (August 27, 2010), changing the spacecraft's navigation signal status to healthy at about 10:10 a.m. (EDT or 4:10 a.m. UTC). 

Launched May 28, the satellite became the responsibility of the USAF 50th Space Wing on August 26,

Rockwell Delivers First GB-GRAM-M Prototypes to GPS Wing

Rockwell Collins has delivered 21 prototype Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module Modernized (GB-GRAM-M) receivers that the Cedar Rapids, Iowa– headquartered company developed under the GPS Wing’s receiver card development program.

After Successful Design Review, GPS III Satellites Ready for Production

More than two years into a multi-billion-dollar contract, the Lockheed Martin team developing the U.S. Air Force's next-generation GPS Block III satellites continues to defy the physics of large aerospace programs by successfully completing the program’s Critical Design Review (CDR) phase last week — two months ahead of the baseline schedule.

Air Force Approves 3 GPS Technical Specs

The GPS Wing has authorized publication of three technical documents with updated specifications for the U.S. Global Positioning System, including the next-generation GPS Block IIIA satellites now in development, the L5 radio link, and the new L1 civil signal  (L1C) that will be available with the GPS III spacecraft.

High-Integrity Global Positioning at Issue as Congress Works Through 2011 GPS Funding

GPS-related procurement and development items in President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 are moving through Capitol Hill, but not without contention. At issue is Obama’s request for $40.9 million for the High-Integrity Global Position System (HIGPS, also known as iGPS).

GPS IIF Satellite Reaches Final Orbital Location

Officials from the Air Space Space and Missile Systems Center’s GPS Wing announced today (August 10) that the first GPS IIF satellite (SVN-62) arrived on-station August 1. This indicates that the satellite is in its designated orbital position and ready for its final phase of on-orbit checkout and testing, to be completed before September. The satellite will then be cleared to serve navigation and timing users as part of the operational GPS constellation.

QZSS Satellite 'Michibiki' to Launch on September 11

JAXA has announced the launch date for Japan's first Quasi-Zenith satellite. On the morning of September 11, H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 will carry the satellite, nicknamed Michibiki, to its inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO).

The launch was postponed from August 2 because of problems with the onboard reaction wheels. The malfunctioning part was replaced.

China Launches 5th Compass (Beidou-2) Navigation Satellite — First IGSO

[Updated August 1, 2010] China's state news agency has reported that the fifth Compass (Beidou-2) satellite — the system's first inclined geostationary orbit (IGSO) spacecraft — was launched successfully at 5:30 a.m. Sunday (August 1 — local time) from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.

The full Beidou-2 constellation will ultimately include 35 space vehicles: 27 in middle Earth orbit (MEO), 5 GSOs, and 3 IGSOs.

Early View on GPS SVN62: As Well As Might Be Expected

The first GPS IIF satellite (SVN62/PRN25) is on orbit and doing well, despite some well-publicized speculation about higher-the-expected range residuals detected by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).