Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
While threats to American defense satellites were climbing sharply, the costs and schedules of U.S. military space programs were on the same unsustainable trajectory — prompting lawmakers last year to begin trying to reorganize Air Force’s military space programs by creating a Space Corps. A move that, so far, has failed.
By Dee Ann Divis
LabSat by Racelogic is looking forward to sharing news on technology developments and product launches at ION GNSS+ in Miami, Sept. 26-28.
After a year’s development, the company is announcing a major update of its SatGen simulation software for use with LabSat 3 Wideband. SatGen software allows you to create a GNSS RF I&Q or IF data file that can be replayed on a LabSat which is based on a user-generated trajectory file. This allows you to simulate almost any kind of test, at a set time and date, anywhere in the world, according to the company.
By Inside GNSS
The latest satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) project update from Lockheed Martin and GMV is designed to collect data near the equatorial region and determine benefits delivered by the dual-frequency, multi-constellation SBAS.
By Stan Goff
The years-long fight over a proposal to recast satellite spectrum near the GPS frequencies for a terrestrial network is now being raised as an issue that could impact efforts to support competitiveness in satellite communications and other sectors of the growing commercial space industry.
By Dee Ann Divis
This year’s Intelligent Transport Systems & Services (ITS) conference will be held in Denmark in September. ITS World Congress will take place from September 17-21 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen. The Congress Theme: “ITS – Quality of Life”, supports the Copenhagen belief that intelligent transport systems are an important means to enhance people’s daily lives through seamless, smart and sustainable mobility solutions.
By Inside GNSS
The Air Force officially announced Friday that Lockheed Martin had been awarded a $7.2 billion contract to build 22 GPS III Follow-on (IIIF) satellites.
By Dee Ann Divis
Once the next-generation GPS III satellites begin launching later this year, a series of updates to the current ground control system from Lockheed Martin will help the U.S. Air Force gain early command and control of the new satellites for testing and operations.
By Inside GNSS
Though the Senate approved next year’s funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) just before its Labor Day break there are still hurdles to overcome before the fiscal year runs out on September 30. For the most part further delay should not greatly impact GPS efforts — as long as stopgap funding is secured to keep DOD’s doors open — but extending the deadline will likely put the GPS IIIF program on hold.
By Dee Ann Divis
The first of the U.S. Air Force’s advanced new, higher-power, harder-to-jam GPS III satellites is making its way to the launch pad.
By Inside GNSS
There was a flurry of filings July 9 just as the window closed for public comment on Ligado Networks’ proposal to repurpose satellite frequencies for a terrestrial network — a plan with the potential to interfere with GPS receivers.
The comments emerged as speculation swirled around a July 3 bid by EchoStar for Ligado spectrum supplier INMARSAT. The bid was rejected and, as of press time, EchoStar will have to wait six months before trying again.
By Dee Ann Divis
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla.– The U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate achieved a major program milestone Aug. 21, successfully delivering the first GPS III satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida to begin launch processing.
By Inside GNSS
As the first Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite prepares to ship to the launch pad, the U.S. Air Force has declared that the second GPS III satellite is complete, fully tested and ready to launch.
By Inside GNSS
The deck of a tall ship rolled heavily beneath me as a freshening wind whistled through the rigging. A sextant in one hand and a stop watch in the other, I carefully listened. “Tock, Tock, Tock, Tock… the time is now fourteen hours, fifty-eight minutes, Coordinated Universal Time… Dong.” I clicked the stop watch in preparation for checking and winding the ship’s chronometers and measuring the height of the sun at local apparent noon.
By Inside GNSS
