Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




GPS NEWS
AFRL Selects Surrey Satellite US to Evaluate Small Satellite Approach to GPS
by Staff Writers
Englewood, CO (SPX) Jan 22, 2013


SST-US will examine how constellations of smaller satellites could improve the overall system performance and resilience.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has selected Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC (SST-US) to investigate cost reduction and augmentation of the current GPS constellation through the application of the small satellite approach.

AFRL has contracted SST-US to identify and analyze how small satellites can improve aspects of GPS system performance such as accuracy, coverage, and robustness at costs far below those of past procurements.

SST-US will examine how constellations of smaller satellites could improve the overall system performance and resilience, including ways to deliver high-power signals and alternative architectures for rapid commanding that could provide system capability improvement.

The comprehensive study will incorporate details of the planned implementation, schedule, concept of operations, definition of the technical and programmatic risks, as well as the expected development, test, and operational costs.

Small satellites have become the focus of many institutional programs in recent years, as they have become ever more capable and demonstrated their importance.

SST-US will draw upon the Surrey Satellite group's 39-mission heritage to analyze the mass, power, and cost of medium-Earth-orbit-capable small satellites and how different launch configurations could reduce the cost and accelerate the timescales associated with GPS deployment.

Dr. John Paffett, CEO of SST-US, commented, "GPS is a hugely successful and important program, but sustaining and modernizing the service requires a new approach to reduce its operating cost. Using smaller satellites forces us to consider the system requirements and implementation, and this drives us towards more innovative and optimal solutions."

In addition to the ability to implement a physical demonstration of new technological approaches, an important selection criterion for the award of the study was the technical merit of SST-US and the combined Surrey group. The Surrey group designed and built GIOVE-A, the first satellite in Europe's Galileo GNSS system, in 29 months within a budget of approximately US$35 million (today).

Operating in medium Earth orbit, the 650 kg satellite was declared a full mission success in 2008-the satellite recently completed its seventh year of operations, far surpassing its original 27-month mission. Building on this success, the Surrey group is now building payloads for the first 22 fully operational capability (FOC) satellites for the Galileo program.

.


Related Links
Surrey Satellite Technology US
GPS Applications, Technology and Suppliers






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








GPS NEWS
Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract to Sustain Ground Station for Global Positioning System
Colorado Springs CO (SPX) Jan 20, 2013
Continuing a legacy of more than 30 years supporting the Global Positioning System, Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to sustain the ground control segment for the GPS satellite constellation. The U.S. Air Force Space Command Space and Missile Center awarded Lockheed Martin a $104 million contract to support the GPS ground control segment. The contract's period of performance is ... read more


GPS NEWS
Bacterial supplement could help young pigs fight disease

USDA Studies Confirm Plant Water Demands Shift with Water Availability

First Global Assessment of Land and Water 'Grabbing'

Cotton could be desert water source

GPS NEWS
DARPA, Industry Collaborate to Knock Down Microelectronics Barriers

New 2D material for next generation high-speed electronics

UGA researchers invent new material for warm-white LEDs

Intel profits slide, outlook weak as woes continue

GPS NEWS
China buys Russian bombers

Sikorsky, Boeing Partner for Joint Multi-Role Future Vertical Lift Requirements

Airlines turn profit from EU freeze on carbon tax: environmentalists

Brazil signs deal to manufacture 'copters

GPS NEWS
European collaboration to prepare European electricity networks for influx of electric vehicles

Does everyone think someone else should drive a green car?

Lexus to launch hybrid sedan in Japan, Europe

Jeep to build cars in China with GAC

GPS NEWS
Japan logs record trade deficit in 2012

China manufacturing growth hits two-year high

US software engineer outsources his job to China

Apple, Google chiefs face grilling on 'no-poaching'

GPS NEWS
Prosecutors take issue with Brazil's new forestry code

Climate change's effects on temperate rain forests surprisingly complex

Trading wetlands no longer a deal with the devil

Study Finds Severe Climate Jeopardizing Amazon Forest

GPS NEWS
RapidEye Commits to Data Continuity; Discusses System Health and Life Span

Pleiades 1B captures its first images using e2v sensors

NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph Mission Satellite Completed

Landsat Senses a Disturbance in the Forest

GPS NEWS
A nano-gear in a nano-motor inside

New Research Gives Insight into Graphene Grain Boundaries

Chemistry resolves toxic concerns about carbon nanotubes

Engineer making rechargeable batteries with layered nanomaterials




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement