WASHINGTON - On Nov. 5, a SpaceX rocket roared into the heavens from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a boxy, 5,000-pound, antenna-studded satellite toward its destination 12,500 miles away, up in what's known as medium Earth orbit. From that distant vantage point, it'll soon beam signals that will help you find your way to a friend's new house out in the suburbs or a vacation destination six hours down the coast, Jon Skillings reports for CNET. Continue reading original article.
The Intelligent Aerospace take:
November 24, 2020 - GPS III SV01 is the first of an entirely new design of GPS satellite which will help the Air Force modernize today's GPS constellation with new technology and advanced capabilities. GPS III has three times better accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities. Spacecraft life will extend to 15 years, 25 percent longer than any of the GPS satellites on-orbit today. GPS III's new L1C civil signal also will make it the first GPS satellite broadcasting a compatible signal with other international global navigation satellite systems, like Galileo, improving connectivity for civilian users.
Related: Newly launched GPS III satellite responding to commands, under self-propulsion
Related: USAF's second Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite arrives ahead of July launch
Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
