Jacques van Oene
November 8th 04, 04:21 PM
U.S. AIR FORCE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES UPGRADED GPS SATELLITE BUILT BY
LOCKHEED MARTIN
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FLA.,November 6, 2004
A Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]--built Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite was successfully launched today by the U.S. Air Force from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. This was the 12th successful launch of
the new-generation GPS IIR spacecraft.
The satellite, designated GPS IIR-13, will join 29 other operational GPS
satellites now on orbit, and will improve global coverage and increase the
overall performance of the GPS constellation. The company has delivered
eight more of these satellites to the Navstar GPS Joint Program Office,
Space and Missile Systems Center, to sustain the GPS constellation.
"With the successful launch of GPS IIR-13, the world-wide navigation system
for both military and civil users is more robust than ever," said Dave
Podlesney, GPS IIR Program Director, Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Valley
Forge, Pa. "We take great pride in our partnership with the Air Force in
carrying out the important mission of the GPS system and look forward to
providing significantly improved positioning capabilities as we transition
to the modernized fleet of IIR spacecraft."
The Global Positioning System allows any properly equipped user to determine
precise time and velocity and worldwide latitude, longitude and altitude to
within a few meters. Although originally designed as a guidance and
navigational tool for the military, GPS has proven beneficial in the
commercial and civil markets for a number of activities, including
transportation, surveying and rescue operations.
The GPS IIR satellites are compatible with the current system and provide
improved navigation accuracy, achieved by using an ITT Industries payload
system. Additionally, increased autonomy and longer spacecraft life are
inherent in the Lockheed Martin satellite design.
To bring new capabilities to the GPS constellation, Lockheed Martin is under
contract to modernize up to eight existing GPS IIR spacecraft already built
and in storage. These spacecraft, designated GPS IIR-M, will incorporate
two new military signals and a second civil signal, thus providing military
and civilian users of the navigation system with improved capabilities much
sooner than previously envisioned.
Lockheed Martin is performing GPS modernization at its Space Systems
facilities in Valley Forge, Pa., and ITT Industries in Clifton, N.J. The
first launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite is scheduled for May 2005.
Lockheed Martin is also leading a team to develop the U.S. Air Force's
next-generation Global Positioning System, GPS III. The team, which
includes Spectrum Astro, Raytheon, ITT, and General Dynamics, is currently
under contract for GPS III concept definition and plans to compete for the
future development.
GPS III will address the challenging military transformational and civil
needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved
system security and accuracy, and reliability. The new satellite system
will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world
standard for positioning and timing services. The team selected to meet
this challenge will provide system and sustaining engineering, satellite
development and production, control segment upgrades, and continuous
research and development for this evolutionary system.
Contact:
Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail,
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
LOCKHEED MARTIN
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FLA.,November 6, 2004
A Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]--built Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite was successfully launched today by the U.S. Air Force from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. This was the 12th successful launch of
the new-generation GPS IIR spacecraft.
The satellite, designated GPS IIR-13, will join 29 other operational GPS
satellites now on orbit, and will improve global coverage and increase the
overall performance of the GPS constellation. The company has delivered
eight more of these satellites to the Navstar GPS Joint Program Office,
Space and Missile Systems Center, to sustain the GPS constellation.
"With the successful launch of GPS IIR-13, the world-wide navigation system
for both military and civil users is more robust than ever," said Dave
Podlesney, GPS IIR Program Director, Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Valley
Forge, Pa. "We take great pride in our partnership with the Air Force in
carrying out the important mission of the GPS system and look forward to
providing significantly improved positioning capabilities as we transition
to the modernized fleet of IIR spacecraft."
The Global Positioning System allows any properly equipped user to determine
precise time and velocity and worldwide latitude, longitude and altitude to
within a few meters. Although originally designed as a guidance and
navigational tool for the military, GPS has proven beneficial in the
commercial and civil markets for a number of activities, including
transportation, surveying and rescue operations.
The GPS IIR satellites are compatible with the current system and provide
improved navigation accuracy, achieved by using an ITT Industries payload
system. Additionally, increased autonomy and longer spacecraft life are
inherent in the Lockheed Martin satellite design.
To bring new capabilities to the GPS constellation, Lockheed Martin is under
contract to modernize up to eight existing GPS IIR spacecraft already built
and in storage. These spacecraft, designated GPS IIR-M, will incorporate
two new military signals and a second civil signal, thus providing military
and civilian users of the navigation system with improved capabilities much
sooner than previously envisioned.
Lockheed Martin is performing GPS modernization at its Space Systems
facilities in Valley Forge, Pa., and ITT Industries in Clifton, N.J. The
first launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite is scheduled for May 2005.
Lockheed Martin is also leading a team to develop the U.S. Air Force's
next-generation Global Positioning System, GPS III. The team, which
includes Spectrum Astro, Raytheon, ITT, and General Dynamics, is currently
under contract for GPS III concept definition and plans to compete for the
future development.
GPS III will address the challenging military transformational and civil
needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved
system security and accuracy, and reliability. The new satellite system
will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world
standard for positioning and timing services. The team selected to meet
this challenge will provide system and sustaining engineering, satellite
development and production, control segment upgrades, and continuous
research and development for this evolutionary system.
Contact:
Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail,
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info