NAVSTAR
IOC: 1978
Total Production: 84
Total Program's Cost: USD$7.6 billion
GPS Block III
IOC: 2014
Production: 8
Total Cost: USD$1.4 billion
Also Known As
GPS Block IIIA
Origin
United States of America
Program Status:
Under Development
Contractor/s
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems
ITT Industries
Lockheed Martin *
Family Members
GPS Block I
GPS Block II
GPS Block IIF
GPS Block IIR
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Description:
The GPS satellites developed under the NAVSTAR program allows any properly equipped user to determine precise time, velocity and worldwide latitude, longitude and altitude to within a few meters. Originally was designed to be an accurate guidance and navigation tool for the military services but it has been adopted by civil and commercial customers for transportation, surveying and rescue operations.
The first GPS Block I spacecraft was put into orbit on February 22, 1978. In the past, the GPS constellation spacecrafts fluctuated from 2-18 to 21 but currently the GPS constellation owned by the United States Air Force consists of 27 satellites (24+3 spares). As of 2004, the US Air Force GPS constellation consists of six planes, each one containing at least four satellites operating 24/7. Redundant satellites are being launched as spares to counterbalance attrition.
The GPS Block III is an initiative of the US Air Force intended to meet the requirements for satellite-based navigation and timing capabilities over the next 30 years. Two industry teams led by Lockheed-Martin and Boeing are currently competing for the GPS Block III program. Finally, the US Air Force selected Lockheed Martin-led team to build eight GPS IIIA satellites worth $1.4 billion with the first spacecraft to be placed into orbit in 2014. The US Air Force GPS Block III plans call for the procurement of eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites in later increments.
Specifications
Dimensions: Length 5.3 m, Width 1.5 m
Weights: Max Weight 844 kg (1,861 lb)
Performance: CEP 3 m (10 ft), Orbit 20,200 km (10,907 nm), Service Life 15 yr
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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Sunday, March 07, 2010
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