Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
Senate lawmakers have introduced a bi-partisan bill giving the Department of Transportation (DoT) responsibility for launching a GPS timing backup and a two-year deadline to get it up and running.
By Inside GNSS
Completing the fourth delivery of 10 navigation payloads for Lockheed Martin’s GPS III satellites, Harris Corporation delivered the advanced navigation payload for the fourth GPS III Space Vehicle (SV04) to Lockheed Martin on October 29 – establishing a proven and reliable production cadence. Harris delivered two payloads in 2017 and is committed to delivering four more in 2018.
By Inside GNSS
The first advanced GPS III satellite successfully established remote connectivity and communicated with the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), further validating the U.S. Air Force’s modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) is ready to launch its first satellite.
On November 2, 2017, GPS III Space Vehicle 01 (GPS III SV01), the first of 10 GPS III satellites designed by Lockheed Martin, and OCX, being developed by Raytheon Corporation, successfully completed Factory Mission Readiness Testing (FMRT).
By Inside GNSS
D302-RTK is a high-accuracy positioning handheld device with rugged design, based on Android OS. Photo courtesy of DATAGNSS.DATAGNSS, a company specialized in rugged data collector based in Hong Kong, just announced their cost-effective all-in-one handheld RTK receiver, D302-RTK.
D302-RTK is a high accuracy positioning handheld device with rugged design, based on Android OS. It integrates with optimized centimeter-level RTK positioning engine. With an external survey antenna or optional helix antenna, D302-RTK provides up to 2-centimeter positioning accuracy, according to the company. This RTK handheld device supports WiFi/BT/LTE networks.
By Inside GNSS
Close to 300 users attended the 1st Galileo User Assembly, held in Madrid, Spain on November 28-29. The users, along with several expert presenters, came together for the first EGNSS User Consultation Platform to share their experience, discuss their needs and provide feedback on Galileo performance, one year after the launch of Galileo Initial Services.
By Inside GNSS
Trimble recently introduced the Trimble GFX-750 display system for agriculture applications. The display system comes with the simple-to-install, roof-mounted NAV-900 guidance controller featuring Trimble’s most advanced multi-constellation GNSS receiver. The satellite coverage provides farmers with more robust signal availability which means more active working time — especially in hilly terrain.
By Inside GNSS
UPDATE: Today’s the day. Check back to the Inside GNSS website for updates on today’s launch.
A European Ariane 5 rocket followed dual rail tracks across the Guiana Space Center in South America on Monday on the way to its launch complex Monday, a day before today’s scheduled blastoff with four satellites to expand the Galileo navigation network. Also, you can follow the launch live at Spaceflight.com.
By Inside GNSS
The Army is kicking off a wide-ranging, five-year research effort to develop new position, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies for battlefield use.
The goal is to overcome technical barriers in a wide range of areas and military officials are offering to fund multiple, and even multi-phase, cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) efforts to do that. The work may range from studies and analysis to development work that results in the production of a prototype-style deliverable or breadboard and/or a demonstration.
By Dee Ann Divis
NovAtel announced Wednesday that its GPS Anti-Jam Technology (GAJT) has been selected for the United Kingdom’s Type 26 Frigates to meet a requirement as part of a protected navigation system. These vessels are 21st Century warships that will replace the Type 23 Frigate as the workhorse of the British Fleet, undertaking the Royal Navy’s three core roles – warfighting, maritime security and international engagement – on the world stage.
By Inside GNSS
One of 12 magnetograms recorded at Greenwich Observatory during the Great Geomagnetic Storm of 1859
1996 soccer game in the Midwest, (Rick Dikeman image)
Nouméa ground station after the flood
A pencil and a coffee cup show the size of NASA’s teeny tiny PhoneSat
Bonus Hotspot: Naro Tartaruga AUV
Pacific lamprey spawning (photo by Jeremy Monroe, Fresh Waters Illustrated)
“Return of the Bucentaurn to the Molo on Ascension Day”, by (Giovanni Antonio Canal) Canaletto
The U.S. Naval Observatory Alternate Master Clock at 2nd Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB in Colorado. This photo was taken in January, 2006 during the addition of a leap second. The USNO master clocks control GPS timing. They are accurate to within one second every 20 million years (Satellites are so picky! Humans, on the other hand, just want to know if we’re too late for lunch) USAF photo by A1C Jason Ridder. 
Detail of Compass/ BeiDou2 system diagram
Hotspot 6: Beluga A300 600ST
1. Mapping Air Traffic, Rainy Seasons, and More
Sahel, Africa
Figures 1 – 10Q: Do modern multi-frequency civil receivers eliminate the ionospheric effect?
By Mark Petovello
A highly anticipated presentation by Ligado Networks to the nation’s leading satellite navigation experts took an unexpected turn when the company said it could not provide essential network information because it was looking to the government for technical direction and its business plans were still in flux.
By Dee Ann Divis
