Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The basis of all precision positioning and navigation is precision timing. Timing comes first. GPS Time is defined on the basis of a set of atomic clocks orbiting aboard the satellites and on the ground in monitoring stations; similarly for the other GNSS systems.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) has activated an orbiting ultra-precise atomic clock orbiting aboard a spacecraft provided by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. If the clock performs as well in space as it has in the lab, losing only one second every 10 million years, the technology could enable far-reaching deep space missions—and improve the accuracy of GNSS timing and positioning.
By Inside GNSS
The Department of Transportation (DOT) will launch, in a matter of weeks, the contracting process to perform field demonstrations of different GPS-backup technologies.
By Dee Ann Divis
DENVER, August 22, 2019 – The U.S. Air Force’s second next-generation GPS III satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is responding to commands, under control and now using its own internal propulsion system to get to orbit following its successful launch this morning.
By Inside GNSS
The Federal Railroad Administration has nearly $245 million available to support railway infrastructure and safety improvements including the installation of Positive Train Control and rail-related research.
By Dee Ann Divis
The second Lockheed Martin-built GPS III space vehicle (GPS III SV02)—also known as Magellan—was recently encapsulated within its protective fairings in preparation for Thursday’s scheduled launch. GPS III will launch tomorrow from Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
By Stan Goff
Air Force Space Command announced its intent this week to award Raytheon a sole source contract to support the new GPS ground system though the wording of the announcement left some question as to when delivery of that system would take place.
By Dee Ann Divis
The Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center recently awarded Maxar Technologies a firm fixed-price delivery order under the Hosted Payload Solutions Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will fund the contract, which will commercially host NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution, or TEMPO instrument.
By Inside GNSS
Today’s vehicular navigation systems couple global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers with an inertial navigation system (INS). Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals are a particularly attractive INS aiding source in GNSS-challenged environments.
By Zak Kassas et alia
Spectrum regulators have denied a request for an extension to file comments on a petition to rewrite the rules governing Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), a wireless technology that spreads the content of a signal across hundreds of megahertz of frequencies and poses a potential interference risk to GPS.
By Inside GNSS
Spectrum regulators are considering a request to modify tough restrictions on devices and systems relying on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, an approach to using frequencies that skips across wide swaths of spectrum instead of confining its signals to distinct, narrower bands.
By Dee Ann Divis
Ligado Networks is pushing spectrum regulators to make a decision on its request to allow satellite frequencies near the GPS band to also be used for terrestrial 5G networks.
By Dee Ann Divis
House and Senate lawmakers have agreed on authorizing the administration’s entire $1.757 billion budget request for the GPS program with the exception of a $10 million trim to the GPS III Follow-On (GPS IIIF) program.
By Dee Ann Divis
