GPS III Space Segment

Abstract

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation system that fills validated Joint Service requirements for worldwide, accurate, common grid three dimensional positioning/navigation for military aircraft, ships, and ground personnel. The consistent accuracy, unaffected by location or weather and available in real time, significantly improves effectiveness of reconnaissance, weapons delivery, mine countermeasures and rapid deployment for all services. GPS must comply with Title 10 United States Code (USC) Sec. 2281 which requires that the Secretary of Defense ensures that continued sustainment and operations of GPS for military and civilian purposes and 51 USC Sec. 50112 which requires that GPS complies with certain standards and facilitates international cooperation. The system is composed of three segments: User Equipment (funded under PE 1203164F), Space (funded under this PE and PE 1203165F) and a Control Network (funded under PE 1203165F and PE 1203423F). The satellites broadcast high accuracy data using precisely synchronized signals which are received and processed by user equipment installed in military platforms. This equipment computes the platform position and velocity and provides steering vectors to target locations or navigation waypoints. The control segment provides daily updates to the navigation messages broadcast from the satellites to maintain system precision in three dimensions to 16 meters spherical error probable worldwide. Additionally, GPS supports the United States Nuclear Detonation (NUDET) Detection System (NDS) mission and provides strategic and tactical support to the following Department of Defense (DoD) missions: Joint Operations by providing capabilities for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT); Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I); Special Operations; Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT); Defense-Wide Mission Support; Air Mobility; and Space Launch Orbital Support. GPS III is the next generation Space Vehicle (SV) to join the GPS constellation. GPS III SVs will deliver significant enhancements, including a new civil (L1C) Galileo- compatible signal, and enhanced anti-jam power. Two auxiliary payloads, Search and Rescue/GPS (SAR/GPS) and Laser Retro-reflector Array (LRA) will be added no earlier than SV11. The SAR/GPS payload provided by Canada will fill a validated National Search and Rescue Committee requirement to provide enduring, space-based distress alerting capability to detect, locate, and relay distress alerts to fulfill its responsibilities under international agreements for Search and Rescue. LRA, built by the Naval Research Lab (NRL), is a passive reflector that will improve accuracy and provide better ephemeris data. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) funds the integration costs of the LRA. This program funds GPS III and supports research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) of GPS III SV01-02 and risk-reducing simulators through a systems engineering approach that matures and delivers SVs for launch. This PE includes SV01-02 engineering studies and analyses, trade studies, system development, test and evaluation efforts, integrated logistics support products, on-orbit support, and mission operations support for civil and military applications that protect U.S. military and Allied use of GPS. The program also includes Contingency Operations (COps) as risk mitigation to late Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) delivery. COps will fly GPS III SVs to be brought into the operational constellation, sustaining current levels of performance and avoiding degradation. The current acquisition schedule of OCX Block 1 (capability to operate GPS III satellites) puts GPS constellation sustainment at risk since the current control segment cannot operate GPS III satellites. GPS III COps is a modification to the current control segment to operate GPS III satellites' PNT and NUDET Detection System (NDS) and maintain limited test M-Code capability until OCX Block 1 is delivered. On 3 July 2015, USD(AT&L) approved the first phase of a two-phased GPS III SV acquisition strategy starting no earlier than SV11. Phase 1 is a Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment which will provide data and insight into contractors' GPS III Production Design with emphasis on a mature navigation payload to include a regional M-Code capability that is consistent with the GPS Enterprise Analysis of Alternatives (AOA). Phase 1 utilizes FY2015-2018 RDTE funding for up to three contractors' GPS production designs. Phase 2 has not been approved and options continue to be explored. Notionally, Phase 2 will be a full and open competition for up to 22 GPS III SVs with an expected decision no earlier than SV11. Phase 2 is funded via Space Procurement Air Force (SPAF) in PE 1203265F, BPAC: 23GPS3. Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) focuses on space vehicle affordability and capability, addresses obsolescence, future requirements and resiliency needs, and expands the industrial base to enhance future competition. Phase 1 will address GPS Enterprise AoA recommendations to increase GPS signal strength from space by maturing navigation payload technologies that include a new regional M-Code capability. The Air Force is using its research laboratories to mature an On-Orbit Reprogrammable Digital Waveform Generator which will provide signal flexibility (to change the signal form while the satellite is on-orbit). This effort will be funded with Air Force Research Lab’s Science & Technology (S&T) funding and PE 1203265F to increase the number of alternate navigation payload awards. Mission Readiness Campaign (MRC) activities include launch preparation, planning, mission readiness testing to validate space-ground-user interfaces, mission crew exercises and rehearsals, launch vehicle integration, and On-Orbit Checkout activities to validate performance prior to launch. Newly certified launch vehicles must be incorporated into the GPS III launch baseline. Integration requires the development of plans and procedures, and procurement of special support equipment. The Global Positioning System (GPS) supports the early deployment of Global M-Code to meet congressional mandate limiting user equipment purchase to M-Code capable receivers starting in FY17. The funds will cover the M-Code Early Use (MCEU) program and support development costs associated with updating the legacy GPS control segment software to provide core M-Code capabilities to the warfighter, as well as the ability to command and control, process, and monitor the M-Code signal. MCEU mitigates delays with the Next Generation Operational Control Segment (OCX), supports Military Global Positioning System User Equipment (MGUE) testing, and allows for early M-Code operations. M-Code provides greater security to protect navigation and timing in electronically contested environments. Impacts of the M-Code deployment include: - Compliance with AFSPC/CC mandate to provide global monitoring necessary for Early M-Code Operational Use and verification of Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR)effects. - Direction to improve the resiliency of the GPS capability. - Confirmation that Enterprise modernization efforts are integrated and deployed properly. - Testing and Verification of M-Code capability on MGUE/GPS III solution and early M-Code use tied to MGUE fielding The FY 2018 funding request was reduced by $35.000 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. In FY 2018, BPAC 67A011, Space Analysis Application Development M-Code Hosted Payload includes new start efforts. This program is a Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full-rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 1203265F_7_3600_PB_2018
• Change Summary Explanation: FY16: -$32.961M Transfer to fund OCX to cost estimate FY17: +$26.300M FY17 Request for Additional Appropriation - Fund GPS Mission Readiness Campaign FY17: +$11.000M FY17 Request for Additional Appropriation - Fund M-Code Early Use (MCEU) FY18: +$36.000M to fund GPS III Mission Readiness Campaign FY18: +$67.800M realignment for GPS III 11+ FY18: -$35.000M reduction due to availability of prior year execution balances FY18: +$53.229M to fund M-Code Early Use FY18: +$10.000M increase for M-Code Hosted Payload FY18: +$0.575M inflation adjustment
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Human Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force Research Laboratories
• Artificial Satellites
• Command And Control
• Control Systems
• Cost Analysis
• Deployment
• Global Positioning Systems
• Military Applications
• Military Research
• Navigation
• Procurement
• Satellite Constellations
• Software Testing
• Spacecraft
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Waveform Generators

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space
• Space - Satellites