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China Begins Broadcasts on Latest Compass GNSS GEO Satellite
June 3, 2010

China Begins Broadcasts on Latest Compass GNSS GEO Satellite

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

[Updated June 11] China has begun transmitting signals on three frequencies from the Compass G3 satellite launched into geostationary orbit (GEO) on June 2. G3 is the third Compass (Beidou-2) GEO and the second such launch this year. The three GEOS and a a middle-earth-orbiting (MEO) spacecraft launched in 2007 comprise the constellations of China’s second-generation GNSS system now under development.

Chinese officials announced that the Compass G3 had reached its geostationary position at 84.6° E longitude on June 7. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has been able to capture the first nominal navigation signals of Beidou G-3.

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By Inside GNSS
Deselecting Unavailability
May 31, 2010

Deselecting Unavailability

Only a decade ago, but a world away: 2000.

The last year of the old century that everyone thought was the first of the new.

When flying was still a delight, rather than a worrisome bother.

When the expected — a global Y2K bug–bitten IT meltdown — didn’t happen, and the much-anticipated but still-unexpected did: the United States turned off GPS selective availability.

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By Inside GNSS
Death of a Russian Engineer

Death of a Russian Engineer

Stas Sila-Novitsky (left) and Javad Ashjaee. Photo by Marc Cheves, American Surveyor

Very sad news from Moscow. Earlier this month, Stanislav Sila-Novitsky — Stas to his friends and colleagues — died unexpectedly after a short illness.

A member of the executive staff of Javad GNSS, Sila-Novitsky had a long career in space electronics engineering. During the Soviet era, he was the department head with the Russian Space Agency’s Institute of Space Device Engineering, which was responsible for the development of the overall GLONASS system electronics.

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By Inside GNSS
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GPS IIF: Up at Last!
May 28, 2010

GPS IIF: Up at Last!

IIF SV1 Takes Off. Photo Courtesy of Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance

Boeing announced today (May 28) that it has acquired the first on-orbit signals from the first GPS Block IIF satellite, the inaugural spacecraft in a 12-satellite block that the company is building. The signals indicate that the spacecraft bus is functioning normally and ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing.

The satellite was launched May 27 on its fourth attempt aboard a Delta IV rocket at 11:00 (EDT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. At 2:33 a.m. today, the satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage, and a ground station on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean received the first signals from the newest member of the Air Force’s GPS satellite constellation, according to Boeing.

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By Inside GNSS
Is GPS Vulnerability Leading the U.S. Towards a More Cooperative Space Posture?
May 27, 2010

Is GPS Vulnerability Leading the U.S. Towards a More Cooperative Space Posture?

As the United States enters a season of crucial Department of Defense (DoD) policy reviews, GPS may be riding the wave or caught in the ebb tide, depending on how one reads the signs. But a softer line toward cooperative efforts on GNSS may be emerging, if only because of concerns about U.S. dependence on a potentially vulnerable system.

The Quadrennial Defense Review, the Space Posture Review, and program objective memorandums (POMs) that will span fiscal 2012-2016 all are in process. Meanwhile, DoD is pushing for reform of export controls, which have frequently constrained the ability of dual-use technologies such as GPS equipment and expertise to be exported profitably and in a timely manner.

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By Inside GNSS
IIF SV1 Launch: Cancellation No. 4 and Counting
May 26, 2010

IIF SV1 Launch: Cancellation No. 4 and Counting

A Boeing technician works on a GPS IIF satellites moving through the “pulse line” at the company’s Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, California. Boeing photo

(UPDATED May 25) The next launch attempt of the first GPS IIF space vehicle (SV1)  has been tentatively set at Cape Canaveral for Thursday, May 27, when the launch window will be 11-11:19 p.m. EDT.

Originally scheduled for May 20, the launch was delayed several times. The fourth launch attempt  was scrubbed Sunday night.

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By Inside GNSS
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GPS Block IIF: A Third Cancellation
May 24, 2010

GPS Block IIF: A Third Cancellation

GPS IIF-SVN1: Still Waiting. United Launch Alliance photo

The third time wasn’t the charm for an attempted first launch of a GPS follow-on (Block IIF) generation of satellites.

Problems with ground support equipment and then with the telemetry signal between the spacecraft and the ground equipment have delayed initial launch of the new-generation satellite three times in the last four days.

Originally scheduled for May 20, the launch was postponed again on May 21 and May 23. Mission controllers hope to get the IIF off the ground on May 24.

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By Inside GNSS
GPS IIF Launch Scrubbed on Pad for Second Time
May 23, 2010

GPS IIF Launch Scrubbed on Pad for Second Time

GPS Block IIF-SVN1 on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. United Launch Alliance photo

Launch managers canceled the second attempt to place the first GPS Block IIF satellite in orbit on Friday, May 21, when the telemetry signal between the spacecraft and the satellite ground support equipment was lost minutes before scheduled liftoff. The problem could not be resolved in time to launch during the 18-minute launch window. 

Another launch attempt has been set for Sunday, May 23, betwen 11:17 and 11:35 p.m. (EDT). The first launch effort on May 20 was called off when a problem with ground support equipment was detected during the day.

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By Inside GNSS
Equipment Problem Delays First GPS IIF Launch
May 19, 2010

Equipment Problem Delays First GPS IIF Launch

Boeing technicians examine the first GPS IIF satellite as it underwent final preparations for its February shipment to Cape Canaveral. Boeing photo

A ground equipment problem has caused a 24-hour delay in launch of the first GPS IIF satellite (GPS IIF-SV1).

Originally scheduled for late May 20, the launch attempt has been reslotted to a May 21 launch window of 11:25 to 11:43 p.m. (EDT)

During normal processing for the launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, mission managers determined that a piece of ground support equipment used to control one of the swing arms on the fixed umbilical tower was not operating correctly and needed replacing.

Replacing the GSE component will add one day to launch processing, according to the United Launch Alliance managers. This will be the first launch of a GPS satellite on the Boeing Delta IV rocket.

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By Inside GNSS
NovAtel Inc. Announces New OEMStar Models, New SPAN IMU
May 15, 2010

NovAtel Inc. Announces New OEMStar Models, New SPAN IMU

SPANS IMU-LCI integrated GNSS/Inertial

Canadian GNSS OEM manufacturer NovAtel Inc. has introduced five new models to its low cost, L1 OEMStar receiver card product line and four new models to the OEMStar-supported FlexPak-G2 enclosure product line. The Calgary, Alberta–based company has also added a new inertial measurement unit (IMU) option to its SPAN (Synchronous Position, Attitude and Navigation) GNSS/inertial product line.

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By Inside GNSS
Space Weather Workshop Highlights Coming Solar Cycle Effects on GNSS
May 8, 2010

Space Weather Workshop Highlights Coming Solar Cycle Effects on GNSS

Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft. NASA image

This year’s Space Weather Workshop — held April 27–30 in Boulder, Colorado — reflected a heightened interest in the space environment due to solar effects on GPS and other GNSSes. A solar storm is suspected to have caused the anomaly in Intelsat’s Galaxy 15 communications satellite that carries a transponder for the GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS),

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By Inside GNSS
Pacific Crest Launches New ADL Data Modem
May 5, 2010

Pacific Crest Launches New ADL Data Modem

Pacific Crest, a Trimble company, has introduced the new ADL Sentry, a UHF radio for remote communications.

An high-speed, data radio modem designed for the demanding environments of remote sensing and environmental monitoring, the ADL Sentry joins the Advanced Data Link (ADL) product line that includes the ADL Foundation, a transceiver OEM modem board; the ADL RXO, a receive-only OEM board; and the ADL Vantage, a 4-Watt programmable UHF radio for survey applications.

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By Inside GNSS
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