Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
Oregon Convention Center interiorGNSS Solutions Ltd. offers tutorials and seminars on Monday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 21, before the Institute of Navigation conference, ION GNSS 2010.
The company’s comprehensive tutorial/seminar program will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, where the ION GNSS conference takes place.
By Inside GNSS
A new National Space Policy announced this week (June 28, 2010) by the White House appears to do more than elevate GPS in the pantheon of U.S. space programs.
The five paragraphs on space-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems prominently enshrine the U.S. GNSS system in the 18-page document: GPS is the only program called out by name in the policy’s section on “Foundational Activities and Capabilities.”
By Inside GNSS
Stanford GNSS Monitor Station AntennaInitial analyses by researchers in the United States and Germany of the transmissions from the first GPS Block IIF satellite indicate generally strong and healthy signals, although the some aspects of the new L5 signal are drawing close attention.
The researchers’ efforts will be reported in two articles in the July/August issue of Inside GNSS magazine.
By Inside GNSS
A new U.S. National Space Policy announced today (June 28, 2010) by the White House says that foreign GNSS services may be used “to augment and strengthen the resiliency of GPS.”
In a document that underlines the Obama administration’s intention to rely more on international cooperation in space-related activities and “energize competitive domestic industries to participate in global markets,” the new policy reaffirms recent efforts “to engage with foreign GNSS providers to encourage compatibility and interoperability, promote transparency in civil service provision, and enable market access for U.S. industry.”
By Inside GNSS
Lockheed Martin has announced successful completion of a key requirements review for the GPS IIIB satellite series under the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS III Space Segment program.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pennsylvania, is working under a $3 billion development and production contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce up to 12 GPS IIIA satellites, with first launch projected for 2014. The contract includes a Capability Insertion Program (CIP) designed to mature technologies and perform rigorous systems engineering for the future IIIB and IIIC increments planned as follow-on procurements.
By Inside GNSS
For the complete story, including figures, graphs, and images, please download the PDF of the article, above.
By Inside GNSS
With the launch of the Delta IV rocket on May 27 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station the first satellite (space vehicle number 62 or SVN62) of the latest GPS generation Block IIF (F, for “follow-on”) was carried into earth orbit — a major step with roots in the past.
Eight years ago in August 2002 the United States decided in coordination with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) to transmit a new civil signal on a third frequency known as L5.
By Inside GNSS
GPS L5 Signal Spectrum. German Aerospace Center imageThe German Aerospace Center (DLR) has tracked and recorded the first operational L5 GPS signal as transmitted by the first GPS Block IIF satellite launched on May 27. The accompanying spectral image of the signal was received at about 15:10 UTC (GMT) today (June 17, 2010).
By Inside GNSS
ITT Corporation has announced that it passed a key milestone last month with successful completion of the critical design review (CDR) for the Mission Data Unit (MDU) the company is developing as part of the navigation payload for the U.S. Air Force’s GPS III program.
By Inside GNSS
GPS IIF SV1 Spectral Flux Density on L1. DLR figure
[Updated June 10] The U.S. Air Force announced today (June 10) that it has begun
testing the new operational L5 signal transmitted by the first GPS IIF satellite (space vehicle 1 or SV1 — designated SVN-62 in the overall GPS system), which was launched May 27.
On June 7, 2010, a team of experts from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Stanford University in California reported results of their tracking of the first navigation signals from the satellite, the pseudorandom noise code 25 (PRN25) on L1 and L2 — C/A and P(Y).
By Inside GNSS
GPS Block IIF Satellite (Boeing photo)Last week’s launch of the first GPS Block IIF illustrates the changes that have occurred not only with the pioneering U.S. GNSS program but also with the nation’s aerospace industry since the Global Positioning System initiative was launched 36 years ago.
By Inside GNSS
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) ConceptThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accelerated its move toward a Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) with contracts awarded to Boeing, General Dynamics and ITT on May 26 and performance requirements for aircraft tracking equipment announced May 28.
NextGen, to be completed by 2025, will rely heavily upon GNSS to increase capacity, efficiency, and safety in the National Air Space (NAS) while reducing adverse environmental effects.
By Inside GNSS
Only a decade ago, but a world away: 2000.
The last year of the old century that everyone thought was the first of the new.
When flying was still a delight, rather than a worrisome bother.
When the expected — a global Y2K bug–bitten IT meltdown — didn’t happen, and the much-anticipated but still-unexpected did: the United States turned off GPS selective availability.
By Inside GNSS
