Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
[Updated November 8, 2011] Europe’s first two Galileo satellites have reached their final operating orbits, opening the way for activating and testing their navigation payloads.
By Inside GNSS
Senator Chuck GrassleyFed up with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) ignoring his repeated requests for information about the agency’s fast-tracking of the LightSquared broadband project, Sen. Chuck Grassley said today (November 3, 2011) that he will hold up the two pending nominees for FCC commissioner positions.
By Inside GNSS
The Russian Federal Space Agency has delayed launch of three GLONASS-M satellites scheduled for today (November 3, 2011), according to the Russian state information agency RIA Novosti has reported. The agency provided no additional details on the cause of the one-day delay.
The launch will take place from the Baikonur space facility in Kazakhstan using the Proton-M carrier rocket, equipped with a Briz-M upper stager
By Inside GNSS
The Dongara facility in Western Australia is part of Prioranet, a commercial tracking network operated by Universal Space Network, Inc., Newport Beach, California, USA, that is being used to track the Galileo IOV satellites. Photo USN, Inc.Preparations to bring the first operational Galileo satellites on-line are continuing apace.
The Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) phase will end tomorrow (November 2, 2011) for the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) spacecraft that were launched on October 21, and transmission of the first navigation signal can be expected in about 10 days from now, according to a European Space Agency (ESA) source.
By Inside GNSS
Russia plans to add four GLONASS-M satellites to its constellation in November, which should bring the GNSS system to fully operational capability (FOC).
The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) website indicates that a launch of three GLONASS-Ms on board a Proton-M rocket will take place this Thursday (November 3, 2011) from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
By Inside GNSS
LightSquared is literally pumping up the volume in its efforts to win support for its proposed broadband network adding a host of new lobbyists and a radio campaign to its existing stable of advocates and print advertising efforts.
By Inside GNSS
First two Galileo IOVs head into orbit from EU’s Kourou space center (ESA photo)The 4th high-level EU conference on European Space Policy will take place at the Parliament Hemicycle, 43 rue Wiertz, in Brussels on November 8 and 9, 2011.
The theme is "A Space Policy for Society and Citizens," and the program will emphasize future funding and applications of the Galileo navigation system and the GMES, the European earth observation and monitoring system.
By Inside GNSS
President Jerzy Buzek, European Parliament[UPDATED November 1] The presidents of the European Parliament and European Council and the president and vice-president of the European Commission have issued an urgent call to EU business and government leaders and citizens to complete Galileo, the EU satellite navigation system, and other space-based initiatives even in the face of the current economic crisis.
They are patrons of a high-level European space policy conference to be held in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on November 9 and 10.
By Inside GNSS
Aerial view of the U.S. Commerce Department building in Washington D.C., where the Space-Based PNT coordination office is located.The 2011-13 members of the federal Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board will hold their second meeting of the year on Thursday and Friday, November 9-10 at the Washington Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria Hotel, 901 North Fairfax, Alexandria, Virginia.
On Thursday, the meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, it will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.
The meeting is open to the public, limited by the capacity of the room.
By Inside GNSS
The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board will meet next week, where the issue of interference to GPS from LightSquared’s terrestrial wireless broadband transmitters will get another airing.
By Inside GNSS
In response to recent public announcements on the readiness of the BeiDou-2 navigation system and the planned release of the signal Interface Control Document (ICD), Spirent Communications plc has announced support for the Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS) on its GSS8000 navigation technology test system.
By Inside GNSS
Russian Soyuz rocket lifts off Europe’s Kourou spaceport pad with first two Galileo IOV satellites on board. ESA photo. Photo: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE/Optique Video Du CSGAs the first two operational Galileo satellites enter orbit following this morning’s launch (October 21, 2011), a closely knit team of engineers from the European Space Ageny (ESA) and CNES, France’s space agency, assumed control.
By Inside GNSS
Galileo IOVs being installed inside Soyuz Fregat upper stage. ESA, CNES, Arianespace, Optique Video du CSG, S.MartinA faulty valve that caused a fuel leak has delayed today’s (October 20, 2011) planned launch of the first Galileo in-orbit vehicle (IOV).
Arianespace said the would be postponed until Friday (October 21, 2011) because a problem in a valve used to disconnect the rocket’s fueling system on take-off had led to the disconnection mechanism being triggered ahead of the take-off.
The Soyuz ST-B had moved to its launch pad last week and the Upper Composite containing twin Galileo IOVs placed on top of it.
By Inside GNSS
