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Gps Iii

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GPS III: A Major Leap for Global Positioning
technology29 days ago

GPS III: A Major Leap for Global Positioning

The GPS III rollout is progressing with SpaceX's launch of the 10th GPS III satellite, forming the first complete block of third‑generation satellites. Over the next decade, up to 22 GPS III satellites will replace aging units, bringing higher transmit power, a new 1176 MHz Safety of Life signal, and military spot beams to improve resistance to jamming. New interoperable signals L1C and L2C will enhance compatibility with Galileo, BeiDou, IRNSS, and QZSS, while M‑code will bolster security for military users. Looking ahead, GPS IIIF satellites will add optical reflectors, laser data links, and the Digital Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard. For most users, improvements will be subtle, mainly faster signal locks and more accurate positioning, with upgrades largely invisible in everyday use.

via Hackaday|
#gps#gps-iii#military
Pentagon cancels GPS OCX after 16-year, multibillion-dollar struggle
defense1 month ago

Pentagon cancels GPS OCX after 16-year, multibillion-dollar struggle

The Pentagon terminated the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) after years of delays and cost overruns, saying continuing was no longer the best path for GPS capabilities. The Space Force will instead upgrade the legacy GPS ground control system to support newer features like the M-code signals, while RTX (Raytheon) delivered OCX in 2025 but will shift to post-delivery support. The move accompanies ongoing GPS III/IIIF satellite operations and a recent $105 million contract to Lockheed Martin for ground-system upgrades, signaling a pivot toward incremental improvements rather than a single all-encompassing system.

via Ars Technica|
#defense#gps#gps-iii
space1 month ago

SpaceX Caps GPS III Era with Final Satellite Launch

SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force's final GPS III satellite, SV10 'Hedy Lamarr', atop a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral after a weather delay, with the booster B1095 returning to a drone ship and both payload fairing halves recovered. The mission continues the migration of GPS launches from ULA to SpaceX under the NSSL Phase 2 contract, in exchange for ULA flying USSF-70 on a Vulcan rocket in 2028. SV10 will spend about 10 days raising to its operational orbit and undergoing testing before handover to the Space Force, and it carries laser cross-link demonstrations and a new digital atomic clock to bolster GPS resiliency ahead of the IIIF generation.

via Spaceflight Now|
#falcon-9#gps-iii#iiif
Space Force pauses Vulcan launches after booster anomaly
technology3 months ago

Space Force pauses Vulcan launches after booster anomaly

Space Force has halted Vulcan rocket launches after an anomaly with a solid-rocket booster was observed on the USSF-87 mission. Investigators will work with ULA and Northrop Grumman to determine corrective actions before resuming Vulcan flights, with no set resumption date and potential fallback options such as SpaceX if Vulcan remains grounded. GPS III SV-10 remains on the national security launch manifest for no later than next month as ULA addresses the booster issue while pursuing its cadence goals.

via Breaking Defense|
#anomaly#gps-iii#space
space4 months ago

Space Force swaps launchers to accelerate GPS III satellite deployment

The U.S. Space Force is swapping launch vehicles for GPS III Space Vehicle 09 and GPS IIIF Space Vehicle 13: SV09 will launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 instead of ULA’s Vulcan, while SV13 moves to Vulcan (from Falcon Heavy). The trade aims to deliver capabilities faster and reduce costs, continuing a pattern of provider swaps to keep GPS deployments on schedule.

via Spaceflight Now|
#gps#gps-iii#space