Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
A new report on the GPS program from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds the situation considerably improved from last year, when its prediction of a significant risk of the satellite constellation falling below 24 satellites set off alarms in Congress and among the user community.
By Inside GNSS
It is not all about the satellites, of course.
And, despite the thrill of launches — the Fourth of July and every other national holiday celebration all grown up — it’s not about the rockets.
When evaluating the progress of GNSS programs, however, satellites and launches are a way to keep count — in fact, it is the way most of us do keep count.
By that measure, then, the numbers are adding up quickly.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Air Force and the Raytheon Company team developing the GPS Advanced Control Segment (OCX) has successfully completed an integrated baseline review (IBR) for the next-generation system on schedule.
By Inside GNSS
Recent action by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) Defense spending bill (S. 3800) that essentially accepts the GPS elements of President Obama’s budget proposal, including $40.9 million for the high-integrity GPS (HIGPS) demonstration project.
By Inside GNSS
More than two years into a multi-billion-dollar contract, the Lockheed Martin team developing the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS Block III satellites continues to defy the physics of large aerospace programs by successfully completing the program’s Critical Design Review (CDR) phase last week — two months ahead of the baseline schedule.
By Inside GNSS
The GPS Wing has authorized publication of three technical documents with updated specifications for the U.S. Global Positioning System, including the next-generation GPS Block IIIA satellites now in development, the L5 radio link, and the new L1 civil signal (L1C) that will be available with the GPS III spacecraft.
By Inside GNSS
GPS-related procurement and development items in President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 are moving through Capitol Hill, but not without contention. At issue is Obama’s request for $40.9 million for the High-Integrity Global Position System (HIGPS, also known as iGPS).
By Inside GNSS
The first GPS IIF satellite (SVN62/PRN25) is on orbit and doing well, despite some well-publicized speculation about higher-the-expected range residuals detected by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
By Inside GNSS
Lockheed Martin has opened a GPS exhibit as a part of the Permanent Space Exhibit of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria, to emphasize the importance of satellite navigation technology serving millions of citizens around the globe.
By Inside GNSS
Lockheed Martin has announced successful completion of a key requirements review for the GPS IIIB satellite series under the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS III Space Segment program.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pennsylvania, is working under a $3 billion development and production contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce up to 12 GPS IIIA satellites, with first launch projected for 2014. The contract includes a Capability Insertion Program (CIP) designed to mature technologies and perform rigorous systems engineering for the future IIIB and IIIC increments planned as follow-on procurements.
By Inside GNSS
With the launch of the Delta IV rocket on May 27 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station the first satellite (space vehicle number 62 or SVN62) of the latest GPS generation Block IIF (F, for “follow-on”) was carried into earth orbit — a major step with roots in the past.
Eight years ago in August 2002 the United States decided in coordination with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) to transmit a new civil signal on a third frequency known as L5.
By Inside GNSS
ITT Corporation has announced that it passed a key milestone last month with successful completion of the critical design review (CDR) for the Mission Data Unit (MDU) the company is developing as part of the navigation payload for the U.S. Air Force’s GPS III program.
By Inside GNSS
Last week’s launch of the first GPS Block IIF illustrates the changes that have occurred not only with the pioneering U.S. GNSS program but also with the nation’s aerospace industry since the Global Positioning System initiative was launched 36 years ago.
By Inside GNSS
