GPS Tracking Continually Renews Itself
United Launch Alliance successfully launched a Delta II expendable launch vehicle today from Space Launch Complex 17-A at 8:23 a.m., EDT carrying the Air Force’s GPS IIR-17(M) satellite. This launch marks the third ULA mission this year conducted for the Air Force, and one of the five remaining Air Force Delta II launches.
Following a nominal 1 hour and 8 minute flight, the rocket deployed the GPS IIR-17(M) spacecraft, the fourth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block II R-M military navigation satellite. GPS is a space-based radio-positioning system nominally consisting of a minimum of 24-satellite constellation that provides navigation and timing information to military and civilian users worldwide… more Block IIR(M) coverage here.
You know, as I sometime go back and re-read my writings I get the feeling that I often come across as a pretty negative commentator. I really don’t think a leopard can change his spots, but I will say for the record, it’s not true that I am a negative person. I’m actually very positive about the GPS segment of the aerospace industry.
I worked in one capacity or another for the US DoD for more than 38 years, so when it comes to comments and critiques of government programs that haven’t performed very well, I could write a book. Indeed i could, but I’m prohibited by law from writing about a great many things I know in order to preserve national security, or in some cases to protect the guilty … you’ll have to judge that one for yourselves.
But the GPS program is a shining example of how government programs can work, and work well. The “R” in this vehicle’s’ designation stands for “Replenishment“, a part of the planned program that was to be launched, in some cases years ago, to replace on-orbit original satellites which had ‘died”. The replenishment program fell far behind, not because of mismanagement, but because the original system birds worked so well, and were so well taken care of by contractor, US Civil Service and military folks at the 2nd SOPS (Satellite Operations Squadron) that they went on doing the job and doing it well that there was no reason to launch replenishment birds.
The program office and their stakeholders collaborated smartly and modernized some of the birds waiting to go up to incorporate the latest advances in hardware and software and to also include a whole new navigational signal which will significantly improve GPS system-wide performance when it rolls out across the space segment. In effect, the entire GPS system is being rebuilt, in place while it continues to operate supporting military and civilian users world-wide, without regard to their politics, country of origin or religious preferences.
Frankly, in a world of often depressing news, especially the squandering of the resources of the former USSR GLONASS system and the economically and environmentally unsound EU Galileo system, I am pretty happy and proud to report news like this from my former employer, the USAF and proud indeed of my own tiny contributions in the past. Hats Off!