Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s complementary PNT AgilePod prototype aced its first high-dynamic flight tests in November 2021. It also achieved two other firsts: the first test of fully-remote interfacing and alt-PNT data transmission, and the first demonstration of overland/overwater transition performance.
By Inside GNSS
Boeing secured a 10-year, $329.3 million contract to help the U.S. Space Force engineer operational GPS Block IIF satellites.
By Inside GNSS
The last GPS III Space Vehicle under the original GPS III contract has been christened “Hedy Lamarr” as part of its production milestone known as core mate, assembling it into a full satellite.
By Inside GNSS
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has executed a $316 million contract option for BAE Systems’ advanced M-Code GPS modules, raising the contract funding to $641 million.
By Inside GNSS
A Soyuz launcher operated by Arianespace and commissioned by ESA lifted off with the pair of 715 kg satellites from French Guiana on December 5. The two join 26 Galileo satellites in the orbiting constellation that now provide Initial Services.
By Inside GNSS
Rapidly changing motion means that every aspect of positioning must be carefully re-examined and re-evaluated to avoid costly and dangerous positioning errors. The frequent changes in heading, acceleration and deceleration inherent in rockets, missiles, jet planes, race cars and other platforms — up to 100 times per second! — dictate a very high rate of data inputs from both inertial and GNSS sensors to capture the complex trajectory.
By Inside GNSS
In a race with the U.S. to develop a laser communications network in space, China’s BeiDou GNSS has conducted an inter-satellite and satellite-ground station experiment using using lasers rather than the usual radio signals. The technology could potentially transmit data a million times faster than by radio signal to almost any location. Some experts say it could increase satnav accuracy by a factor of 6 to 40
By Inside GNSS
Russia conducted an unannounced direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile test on November 15, targeting and exploding its own defunct satellite Tselina-D. After the test, Russian television executive and spokesperson Dmitry Konstantinovich Kiselyov, head of the official Russian government-owned international news agency Rossiya Segodnya, reportedly said on live tv that this demonstrated that Russia could and would if necessary target U.S. GPS satellites, thus “blinding” its military forces.
By Inside GNSS
Europe’s first prototype satnav space vehicle, Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element A (GIOVE-A), was decommissioned on November 24 after 16 years of work in orbit. The 2005-launched mission secured Galileo’s radio frequencies for Europe and demonstrated key new space-based navigation hardware.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global announced the winner of its second Global-X Challenge, kicking off a proof-of-concept effort on an alternative navigation system using muons in the Arctic to gain precision equal to that of GPS.
By Inside GNSS
Spectranetix, Inc. has released its SX-124, ruggedized 3U OpenVPX high-performance position, navigation and timing (PNT) solution. With an ability to provide timing and positioning information in a GPS-denied environment through sensor fusion, the SX‑124 switch is a highly integrated next-generation cyber / electronic warfare (EW) / Signals intelligence (SIGINT) / Communications / Battle Management System (BMS) device
By Inside GNSS
Telespazio UK, a subsidiary of Telespazio of France and Italy, received a development contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) for a Next Generation Network Assisted Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Assurance (NG-NAPA) project.
By Inside GNSS
High standards for technology in the lab and in the factory are all very fine, but what matters most is how it works in industrial application. We take a close-up look at inertial measurement and inertial navigation in such real-world cases as
• oil and gas pipeline inspection,
• stabilization of optical camera platforms and
• autonomous cargo transport.
