Air Force Investigating Residuals in GPS IIF Signals

[Updated July 22, 2010] Air Force officials at the GPS Wing have confirmed that higher-the-expected range residuals detected by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are appearing in signals transmitted by the first GPS IIF satellite, designated SVN/62/PRN25.

But the Air Force and Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, which built the spacecraft, point out SVN62 is currently performing within specifications, and the signal phenomenon does not appear likely to have any significant effect on GPS positioning when the satellite is declared operational.

EUROCONTROL Contracts with Egis Avia to Study Solar Weather Effects on Europe's Air Safety

EUROCONTROL, Europe's air traffic control agency, is studying the effect of solar events on civil aviation applications and developing ways to maintain air safety when GNSS signals are affected.

Aviation Applications: Hybrid Navigation Techniques and Safety-of-Life Requirements

For the complete story, including figures, graphs, and images, please download the PDF of the article, above.

Evolution of GNSS into a global system of multiple systems opens up a new world of aviation applications, improving such factors as integrity, accuracy, and availability of positioning.

EC Outlines GNSS Applications Action Plan

Development of downstream markets, buttressed by regulatory and certification initiatives, underlie a plea for additional funding of Galileo-related research and development in an Action Plan on GNSS Applications issued by the European Commission (EC) on June 14.

Navitec 2010: The Fifth Anniversary

The European Space Agency (ESA) will hold its fifth Workshop on Satellite Navigation Technology, NAVITEC 2010, from December 8 through 10 at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Is GPS Vulnerability Leading the U.S. Towards a More Cooperative Space Posture?

As the United States enters a season of crucial Department of Defense (DoD) policy reviews, GPS may be riding the wave or caught in the ebb tide, depending on how one reads the signs. But a softer line toward cooperative efforts on GNSS may be emerging, if only because of concerns about U.S. dependence on a potentially vulnerable system.

The Quadrennial Defense Review, the Space Posture Review, and program objective memorandums (POMs) that will span fiscal 2012-2016 all are in process. Meanwhile, DoD is pushing for reform of export controls, which have frequently constrained the ability of dual-use technologies such as GPS equipment and expertise to be exported profitably and in a timely manner.

ESA Sponsors GNSS Summer School this September in Denmark

Online registration is open for the fourth International Summer School on Global Navigation Satellite systems. The 10-day course will take place at the GPS Center at Aalborg University in Slettestrand, Denmark from Wednesday afternoon, September 1 through Saturday morning, September 11.

Held for the first two years at University FAF Munich, it now takes place in Denmark with two new lead sponsors, the European Space Agency and Nokia.