GPS Satellite Launch

[Cormorant]

They put up a new GPS satellite yesterday.

Next-generation GPS satellite launched into orbit

Mostly I'm posting this just because I love the photo that accompanied the news article.

I've always wanted to be out on the water near Canaveral when they do a nighttime launch . . . someday, I hope.

[goboatingnow]

These are Block IIF birds, designed as a holding position until the newer birds are available as the GPS constellation was getting close to having no redundancy

They have a few new characteristics ( wiki summary)

Broadcasting L5 "safety of life" navigation signal demonstrated on USA-203
Broadcasting a new M-code signal
Doubling in the predicted accuracy
Better resistance to jamming
Reprogrammable processors that can receive software uploads
The first GPS satellites not to have Selective Availability hardware installed which degraded civilian accuracy when turned on in the original satellite fleet

Safety of life , is for aircraft etc, GPS enabled landings...hmmmmmm


I believe all these block IIF are carrying the new civilian L2C channel for enhanced position accuracy, when the constellation is updated, this will provide the same or better then m,military to dual receiver based GPS receivers. mm accuracy.


Interesting re SA hardware, this wasn't expected until GPS III, of course wiki could be wrong.!!

Dave

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Cormorant

Mostly I'm posting this just because I love the photo that accompanied the news

What crap GPS! It can't even get the satellite to go straight!!!





Mark

[s/v 'Faith']

A bunch of us watched the launch from the Abacos last night, had a pretty good view.

[brutb]

We watched the launch from the bow of our sailboat on Merritt Island. Always a great sight to see so much power unleashed in a short period of time. Jeff, our Wisconsin visitor, had never seen a launch and videoed the whole thing until it was lost in the high thin cloud layer. A night launch is always spectacular to see.... This is one time you can see your American tax dollars at work for lots of people.