Environment

GNSS Systems Reports: Compass ICD, Expanded QZSS, GLONASS Launches, GPS Budget Issues, Galileo Reprofiling
October 4, 2011

GNSS Systems Reports: Compass ICD, Expanded QZSS, GLONASS Launches, GPS Budget Issues, Galileo Reprofiling

[Updated October 3] All five of the world’s major satellite navigation systems are poised to offer new capability — if the money comes through — program representatives told attendees at the recent Institute of Navigation’s GNSS 2011 conference in Portland.

The satellite navigation systems in China, Japan, and the United States have each recently had new satellites added, while those in Russia and Europe are poised for new launches. Budgets are in flux for most systems, however, so it remains to be seen how the systems will advance over the next year.

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By Inside GNSS
GPS III
September 8, 2011

GPS III

FIGURE 1: GPS III On Orbit

In May 2008, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a new, third generation of GPS satellites. The GPS III space vehicle (SV) has been designed (Figure 1, see inset photo, above right) and is now being built to bring new future capabilities to both military and civil positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) users throughout the globe.

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By Inside GNSS
EC Official Adds Galileo, EGNOS Worries to FCC’s LightSquared-GPS Deliberations
July 20, 2011

EC Official Adds Galileo, EGNOS Worries to FCC’s LightSquared-GPS Deliberations

European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). ESA illustration

Citing European Space Agency (ESA) studies that showed “harmful interference” to Galileo receivers operating up to 1,000 kilometers from LightSquared base stations, a European Commission (EC) official has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about his “deep concerns” about the wireless broadband company’s terrestrial transmissions in the 1525–1559 MHz band next to L1 GNSS frequencies.

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By Inside GNSS
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Lockheed Martin Team Completes GPS IIIB System Design Review
July 5, 2011

Lockheed Martin Team Completes GPS IIIB System Design Review

GPS III satellite. Lockheed Martin illustration

Lockheed Martin has announced the successful, on-schedule completion of a system design review (SDR) for the second-phase of next-generation GPS satellite development, the IIIB increment.

The company’s Space Systems division in Newtown, Pennsylvania, is under contract to produce the first two of a planned eight 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 future GPS III increments.

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By Inside GNSS
Homeland Security Steps Up to Protect GPS (But Not from LightSquared)
May 19, 2011

Homeland Security Steps Up to Protect GPS (But Not from LightSquared)

After a long series of fits and starts, the Department of Homeland Security is tackling the issue of interference to the GPS signal. The agency has launched a study to assess the risks to GPS service from a variety of sources — a study that, at least on paper, will lead to a plan to mitigate interference.

Unfortunately, the effort will not directly address the one potential problem consuming the thoughts of the GPS community — widespread receiver overload from the high-powered mobile broadband service proposed by the Virginia firm LightSquared.

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By Dee Ann Divis
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Registration opens for 2011 GPS Partnership Council Meeting at Los Angeles AFB
March 12, 2011

Registration opens for 2011 GPS Partnership Council Meeting at Los Angeles AFB

A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter demonstrates the use of GPS technology at a previous GPS Partnership Council meeting. (Photo: Joe Juarez)

Registration is now open for the 2011 GPS Partnership Council meeting on Tuesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 4 at the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California. 

These military and industry networking meetings, now in their 11th year, are sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association) and the USAF GPS Directorate, formerly the GPS Wing. 

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By Inside GNSS
LightSquared, GPS Industry Council Propose Process for Assessing GPS Interference Risks
February 27, 2011

LightSquared, GPS Industry Council Propose Process for Assessing GPS Interference Risks

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Attorneys for LightSquared Subsidiary LLC submitted a proposed work plan on Friday (February 25, 2011) for analyzing potential interference to GPS devices. The plan, required by the FCC as a condition of its granting a waiver to its Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) rule for mobile satellite services (MSS), proposes to establish a working group (WG) to study the GPS overload/desensitization.

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By Inside GNSS
Parimal Majithiya
January 24, 2011

Parimal Majithiya

Parimal Majithiya received his B.E. (electronics and communication) from Gujarat University and an M.Tech degree in satellite communications from Andhra University.

He joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Space Applications center in 1987 and worked in the field of satellite communication and system engineering as a project manager.

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By Inside GNSS
ION 2011 International Technical Meeting
September 16, 2010

ION 2011 International Technical Meeting

Catamaran Hotel, San Diego

The Institute of Navigation International Technical Meeting (ITM) will take place January 24-26 at the Catamaran Hotel on Mission Bay in San Diego California.

Paul Kline of Honeywell Aerospace is the general chair. Jade Morton of Miami University, Ohio, is the program chair.

"Robotics Navigation" is the plenary session topic. Invited speakers will discuss current trends and future technologies that support navigation for surveillance, search and rescue, undergound and underwater robotics and unmanned air vehicles.

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By Inside GNSS
A Search for Spectrum
August 17, 2010

A Search for Spectrum

In recent years, researchers have explored possible new allocations for Radio Determination Satellite Service (RDSS) and Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) spectrum from a regulatory point of view. These studies have mainly discussed S-band and C-band in addition to L-band.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Radio Regulations define RNSS as a subset of RDSS. Although the allocations are differentiated — RDSS usually has a paired uplink — both can actually be used for satellite navigation.

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By Inside GNSS
China Launches 4th BeiDou Navigational Satellite
July 30, 2010

China Launches 4th BeiDou Navigational Satellite

A Compass/Beidou-2 geostationary satellite is lifted into space from China’s Xichang space center. (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology photo)

[Reprinted with permission from NAVIBIZ, Issue Date: 2010-6-18]

At 23:53 on June 2, China successfully launched the 4th BeiDou navigational satellite into the pre-designated orbit with the "Long March 3C" carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, symbolizing that China has made another important step forward in building the BeiDou (COMPASS) Navigation Satellite System. The construction of COMPASS follows the principles of openness, independency, compatibility, and gradualness.

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By Inside GNSS
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