The sixth International Positioning System III (GPS III) satellite tv for pc designed and constructed by Lockheed Martin has been launched and is propelling to its operational orbit roughly 12,550 miles above Earth, the place it’ll contribute to the continuing modernization of the U.S. House Power’s GPS constellation. GPS III House Automobile 06 (GPS III SV06) launched from Cape Canaveral House Power Station, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 7:24 a.m. EST at the moment. About 83 minutes after liftoff, U.S. House Power and Lockheed Martin engineers on the firm’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Heart confirmed sign acquisition of GPS III SV06 and now have the area automobile “flying” below their management.
GPS III SV06 is the twenty fifth Navy-Code satellite tv for pc launched to the constellation. The satellite tv for pc will present superior expertise to aide House Power operators of their mission by offering positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) knowledge to navy and civil customers worldwide. GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system that delivers the gold customary in PNT providers to America’s navy, U.S. allies and civil customers. The satellites function a vital technological basis for web, monetary, transportation and agricultural operations, with greater than 4 billion customers relying on the PNT indicators. GPS III autos present thrice higher accuracy and eight occasions higher anti-jamming functionality over current satellites within the constellation. To higher handle mission wants and rising threats, Lockheed Martin deliberately created GPS III with a modular design, permitting new expertise and capabilities to be added sooner or later.
Commercial
“Lockheed Martin is extremely proud to assist the House Power’s GPS staff because it continues so as to add world-class capabilities that underpin U.S. nationwide safety with enhanced efficiency and accuracy. With the final GPS III satellite tv for pc full and able to launch, manufacturing of the primary GPS IIIF automobile is underway,” mentioned Andre Trotter, Lockheed Martin vice chairman for Navigation Programs.
Lockheed Martin has accomplished manufacturing on its unique GPS III SV1-10 contract, with the House Power declaring SV10 Accessible for Launch on Dec. 8, 2022. GPS III SV06 will quickly be part of SV01-05 in orbit. GPS III SV07-10 are accomplished and in storage on the firm’s facility ready for the U.S. House Power to name them up for launch. Lockheed Martin can also be designing and constructing the GPS III Comply with On (GPS IIIF) for the House Power, which is able to function much more revolutionary capabilities than its predecessors. GPS IIIF satellites will function an accuracy-enhancing laser retroreflector array, a brand new search and rescue payload, a totally digital navigation payload and extra next-generation expertise. In November 2022, House Programs Command introduced it exercised the third manufacturing choice valued at roughly $744 million for the procurement of three extra GPS IIIF satellites from Lockheed Martin, which means the corporate is now contracted to construct SV11-20.
