Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The last projected GPS III missions and the first follow-on missions are part of Space Systems Command (SSC)’s 21 new mission assignments, all of which are expected to launch within the next two to three years.
By Inside GNSS
SpaceX recently signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four Galileo satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket next year.
By Inside GNSS
On Wednesday morning, the GPS III Space Vehicle 06 (GPS III SV06) was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and the satellite successfully deployed. The satellite, the sixth designed and built by Lockheed Martin, will enhance accuracy and anti-jamming capability, helping to modernize the U.S. Space Force’s GPS constellation.
By Renee Knight
A “non-recurring design validation” of a previously flown SpaceX Falcon 9 booster will be completed by the end of this month, in time to carry the next GPSIII satellite aloft, according to U.S. Space Force executive officer.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Space Force’s newest GPS satellite, Space Vehicle 04 (GPS III SV04), has been re-scheduled for launch this Thursday, November 5. A previous launch date of October 2 was scrubbed at T-2 because of a detected anomaly in two of the booster rocket’s nine engines.
By Inside GNSS
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA — NASA is poised to demonstrate an advanced atomic clock that could someday markedly improve satellite navigation.
By Dee Ann Divis
SES has announced that its newest satellite, SES-12, is now ready to serve its video, fixed data, mobility and government customers across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
By Inside GNSS
UPDATE: According to SpaceX, the launch has been pushed back a second time. Initially the company had not selected a new launch date, but on Dec. 20 they stated that the new date was to be Dec. 22.
Here are some details from the SpaceX website published on Dec. 20:
SpaceX is now targeting December 22nd for launch of the United States Air Force’s first Global Positioning System III space vehicle (SV) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Weather is 80% favorable for the launch window which opens at 8:55 a.m. EST, 13:55 UTC.
For this mission, the satellite will be deployed to medium Earth orbit approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes after liftoff. Due to mission requirements, SpaceX will not attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage after launch. You can watch the live launch webcast, starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.
By Inside GNSS
