The Global Positioning System 'GPS' is now a global utility. The United States Air Force is the steward responsible for sustaining and modernizing the constellation. The current launch-to-sustain strategy implemented by the Air Force is not flexible, does not effectively support GPS modernization, and it does not lend itself to a future responsive launch paradigm. A more flexible sustainment strategy is required where the constellation is minimally sustained in preparation for a transformational modernization. A minimalist sustainment or launch-on-failure strategy has the advantage of requiring fewer total spacecraft and providing more concrete and intentional launch decisions. Once a new spacecraft block has been developed and delivered, a launch-to-transform strategy could be invoked where satellites would be launched at the maximum rate possible. This flexible launch strategy would both sustain the constellation and provide an opportunity to transform the constellation relatively quickly. It is therefore the suggestion of this paper that the current launch-on-predicted-failure strategy be replaced by the more flexible launch-on-failure strategy with the option to pursue a launch-to- transform strategy when GPS III satellites become available.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    New Flexible Global Positioning System (GPS) Constellation Sustainment Strategy


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    39 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Impact of GPS Block IIR Space Vehicle Lifetime on Constellation Sustainment

    Marquis, W. / Riggs, J.D. / Institute of Navigation | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010


    Global Positioning System Constellation Clock Performance

    J. Oaks / M. M. Largay / W. G. Reid et al. | NTIS | 2002




    Simulator Sustainment Mgt

    B. L. Bell | NTIS | 2010