Galileo IOV Satellites Handed Over to German Aerospace Center

[Updated November 8, 2011] Europe’s first two Galileo satellites have reached their final operating orbits, opening the way for activating and testing their navigation payloads.

Russia Launches Three More GLONASS-Ms

Russia launched a Proton-M rocket carrying three GLONASS-M satellites from the Baikonur space center at 16:51 Moscow time [12:51 GMT] on Friday (November 4, 2011) after a 24-hour delay due to technical reasons, a spokesman for the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said.

Grassley to Block FCC Appointments over Agency's Approach to LightSquared/GPS Issue

Fed up with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) ignoring his repeated requests for information about the agency’s fast-tracking of the LightSquared broadband project, Sen. Chuck Grassley said today (November 3, 2011) that he will hold up the two pending nominees for FCC commissioner positions.

Roscosmos Delays GLONASS Launch

The Russian Federal Space Agency has delayed launch of three GLONASS-M satellites scheduled for today (November 3, 2011), according to  the Russian state information agency RIA Novosti has reported. The agency provided no additional details on the cause of the one-day delay.

The launch will take place from the Baikonur space facility in Kazakhstan using the Proton-M carrier rocket, equipped with a Briz-M upper stager

Galileo Satellites Will End Early Operations Phase Soon, Navigation Signals to Follow

Preparations to bring the first operational Galileo satellites on-line are continuing apace.

The Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP)  phase will end tomorrow (November 2, 2011) for the In-Orbit Validation (IOV) spacecraft that were launched on October 21, and transmission of the first navigation signal can be expected in about 10 days from now, according to a European Space Agency (ESA) source.

FCC Moves Against Online Retailers of GPS Jammers

Increasing incidences of interference to GNSS signals has led to a crackdown on Internet-based companies offering devices to jam cell phone, Wi-Fi, and GPS signals.

In October, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Enforcement Bureau issued 21 enforcement actions against online retailers in 12 states for illegally marketing more than 215 different models of wireless communications jammers, including nearly 80 types of devices that could jam GPS signals.

Russian Plans Four GLONASS-M Launches in November, System Nears FOC

Russia plans to add four GLONASS-M satellites to its constellation in November, which should bring the GNSS system to fully operational capability (FOC).

The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) website indicates that a launch of three GLONASS-Ms on board a Proton-M rocket will take place this Thursday (November 3, 2011) from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.

More Lobbyists Join LightSquared’s Battle with GPS Community

LightSquared is literally pumping up the volume in its efforts to win support for its proposed broadband network adding a host of new lobbyists and a radio campaign to its existing stable of advocates and print advertising efforts.

Getting Personal: LightSquared-GPS Interference Issue May Heat Up PNT Advisory Board Meeting

The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board will meet next week, where the issue of interference to GPS from LightSquared’s terrestrial wireless broadband transmitters will get another airing.

They Are Up! EU Launches First Galileo IOV Satellites

As the first two operational Galileo satellites enter orbit following this morning's launch (October 21, 2011), a closely knit team of engineers from the European Space Ageny (ESA) and CNES, France's space agency, assumed control.