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  • Geospatial Technology, End to End...

    Exploring all aspects of mapping and geography, from field data collection, to mapping and analysis, to integration, applications development, enterprise architecture and policy
Showing posts with label satellites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label satellites. Show all posts

3 New GLONASS Birds Launched

Posted by Dave Smith On 12/26/2007 07:37:00 PM 1 comments

In echoes of Christmas Past, ITAR-TASS and others are announcing the launch of three new GLONASS space vehicles. They were launched from Baikonur atop a Proton-M at 22:32 Moscow time on Tuesday.

Refer to the GLONASS site for current SV status: http://www.glonass-ianc.rsa.ru/pls/htmldb/f?p=202:20:16827457493506720876::NO:::

At present, it does not yet show the three new SVs active. Of a total 24 slots, 18 are presently occupied, with two temporarily switched off, and 3 undergoing decommissioning.

This brings GLONASS close, but still short of its current goal of 18 SVs. Six more GLONASS satellites are scheduled for launch in 2008, and the first two improved GLONASS-K satellites are scheduled for launch the following year, hopefully rounding out the full complement of 24.

On a related note, former spymaster Vladimir Putin has stated an intent to use GLONASS to spy on his dog, Connie.

As of June 4, 2007, the USGS will be releasing selected Landsat 7 image data of the United States through the Web (glovis.usgs.gov or earthexplorer.usgs.gov). These data are of high quality with limited cloud cover (referred to as the Landsat ETM+ SLC-off L1T Standard Product).

This Web-enabled distribution of new and recently acquired data is a pilot project for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), currently projected for launch in 2011.

The project will allow the Landsat data user community to help refine the distribution system planned for the upcoming LDCM. Each scene will be registered to the terrain, or “ortho-rectified,” prior to being placed on the Web. Copies of these data will also be available on CD or DVD at the cost of reproduction.

Landsat data have proven useful for a wide range of applications. From disaster monitoring after Hurricane Katrina and the Indonesian tsunami to global crop condition analysis, Landsat data are being used by scientists around the world.

The Web-based distribution system will allow the user community easier access to Landsat 7 data. The pilot project will be carefully examined. Customer response will be evaluated and their insight will influence the future distribution system.

Rachel Kurtz, PhD
Data Acquisition Manager, Acting
Landsat Project

USGS EROS
Land Remote Sensing Program
Sioux Falls, SD 57198

Lockheed Martin Completes GPS Block III Design Review

Posted by Dave Smith On 4/14/2007 08:05:00 PM 0 comments

Lockheed Martin has posted some news on one of their GPS Block III milestones:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=18298&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400
LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM COMPLETES GPS III SYSTEM DESIGN REVIEW ON SCHEDULE

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., April 5, 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has successfully completed on-schedule a system design review of the U.S. Air Force's next generation Global Positioning System Space Segment program, known as GPS Block III.

More than 100 representatives from the Defense Department, including members of the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Command and Strategic Command, as well as the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, recently attended a five-day system design review (SDR) at Lockheed Martin in Valley Forge, Pa.

The review, which represented a significant interim milestone under a $49 million contract awarded in Nov. 2006, validated the detailed design of the GPS Block III system to ensure it meets military and civil user requirements. The Air Force is expected to award a multi-billion dollar development contract to a single contractor team in late 2007.

"The team executed on schedule an outstanding design review, demonstrating our technological, systems engineering and integration strengths for achieving mission success on this critical initiative," said Joanne Maguire, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "We are extremely pleased with the government participation and the successful outcome of this important review and stand ready to proceed with the next development phase of the GPS III program."

GPS Block III will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for positioning and timing services. The program will address the challenging military transformational and civil needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities and improved system security, accuracy and reliability.

During the review, the team reviewed in detail its planned architecture and design approach for the system and summarized results of risk reduction efforts and the team's experience on the government's Block IIR and IIR-M programs. A highlight of the review was an extensive exhibit hall that featured demonstrations of key technologies and displays summarizing performance, mission scenarios, and user benefits.

For GPS III, the team of Lockheed Martin, ITT and General Dynamics is building on its proven record of providing progressively advanced spacecraft for the GPS constellation. The team designed and built 21 Block IIR satellites for the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Eight of the spacecraft, designated Block IIR-M, were successfully modernized and delivered to the customer to enhance operations and navigation signal performance for military and civilian GPS users around the globe.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

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