Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
Less than a month after Europe switched off most of its Loran transmitters, a problem with GPS satellite timing signal triggered alarms across the continent and caused an unknown number of outages, including the disruption of some features of critical infrastructure.
By Inside GNSS
If approved, legislation halting the use of a Russian rocket engine could force delays in the launch of U.S. military satellites, including, potentially, GPS III spacecraft planned for launch beginning next year.
The bill, introduced this week by Sen. John McCain R-Arizona, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, would ban the use of Russian RD-180 rocket engines for the evolved expendable launch vehicle program (EELV).
By Inside GNSS
A couple of GPS anomalies struck yesterday (January 26, 2016), one systemic and the other delaying launch of the final Block IIF satellite.
By Inside GNSS
ESA renewed its New Year’s tradition, briefing the news media on January 15 at the European Space Agency headquarters in Paris, with the agency’s new director general, Johann-Dietrich Wörner, presiding for the first time..
The contrast with his predecessor, the well-liked Jean-Jacques Dordain, is clear but not stark. Wörner is a bit more whimsical than Dordain, but not too much. His presentation features a few more cartoons, he makes a few more jokes, and there is a picture of the Star Trek (Next Generation) crew to make us chuckle.
By Inside GNSS
SBAS and RNSS: The Unsung Heroes of GNSS
Okay, if I had wanted to pander to GNSS fans, I might have called this, “Making Great Greater.”
But there are only so many superlatives that can be lathered on this remarkable technology before simple praise turns into hagiography.
So, it’s time once more to give a little love to those unsung heroes of GNSS: the augmentations and regional navigation satellite systems.
By Inside GNSS
Catching thieves in California, Galileo satellites test Einstein, Russian space agency remodel, and 911 training for operators who can’t read maps.
By Inside GNSS
Having started out with a crowd source–funded launch through Kickstarter followed by two rounds of more conventional venture capital backing — $2.6 million in 2014 and another $11 million last December — San Francisco, California–based Swift Navigation is going after a low-cost, high-precision market such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with its Piksi GPS receiver platform.
By Inside GNSS
The federal government is looking to small firms to help solve some of its toughest GPS-related technology problems with many of the projects focusing on countering jamming while others endeavor to simplify signal acquisition and improve links within the constellation. A recent spate of requests for proposals for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts have been released by various agencies. These include the following:
By Inside GNSS
The 11th Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) European Congress and industry exhibition will be held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, Scotland June 6 – 9, 2016.
By Inside GNSS
A new international conference on advanced GNSS and 3D spatial techniques will be held at the University of Trieste, Main Conference Room, H3 Building, on February 18, 19 and 20. It is free to participants.
The conference will focus on GNSS applications for civil and environmental engineering, geophysiques, architecture, archaeology and cultural heritage. It has been organized in memory of Giorgio Manzoni, professional of surveying and mapping at the university.
By Inside GNSS
The 23rd International Conference on Integrated Navigation Systems will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 30 – June 1, 2016.
The event is being held during the lively "White Nights" tourist season, when the sun stays up until 11 p.m. or later. Guided city tours will be arranged for the participants of the Conference.
By Inside GNSS
GAGAN — India’s SBAS
Redefining Navigation over the Indian Region
Recognizing the potential benefits of satellite-based augmentation systems, India took the early initiative to create its own SBAS called GAGAN — GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation.
Europe’s space community rang in the New Year with two of its brightest annual fixtures: the European Union (EU) Space Policy conference in Brussels and the European Space Agency (ESA) media briefing in Paris.
The events brought out all of the relevant voices and served to illustrate not only the disposition of materiel and troops but also their intent and even the level of morale.
By Peter Gutierrez
