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 latest version of the Galileo Open Service Definition Document (OS SDD), updated November 2021, describes upgrades enacted in the Galileo system since May 2019: improvements, current constellation status and updates in the ground infrastructure that increase its robustness. This is the last update foreseen before Galileo Open Service reaches Full Operational Capability (FOC).
By Inside GNSS
Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat is working on a UK Space Agency-funded test project with the European Space Agency, alongside British partners Goonhilly Earth Station Limited and GMVNSL Limited, to deliver the first UK-generated GNSS signal.
By Inside GNSS
The RINEX Working Group of the International GNSS Service (IGS) has released the new Receiver Independent Exchange Format Version 4.00 (RINEX4), as of December 1, 2021.
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
Future miniaturized sensors, to be used for example in bee-sized drones, mini-satellites, or wearable devices, are likely to include GNSS chipsets supporting accurate outdoor localization and also offering reduced computational costs and power consumption compared to traditional GNSS receivers. The survey various energy-efficient methods for GNSS acquisition and present a discontinuous-reception acquisition algorithm, analyzed with both simulated and measurement-based data.
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
