© IESSG

GPS Civil and Military

Modernisation
Professor Terry Moore
Professor of Satellite Navigation
Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy
The University of Nottingham

Version 0909
GPS Status
September 2009

• 32 satellites on-orbit (31 operational)

– 12 Block IIA, 12 Block IIR, 7(+1) IIR-M
• 2 satellites launched in the last year (Block IIR-M)

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– SVN49, IIR-M-7, PRN 01, 24 Mar 09, B2
– SVN50, IIR-M-8, PRN 05, 17 Aug 09, E6 (now operational)
– Both being commissioned at the moment
• Upcoming Launches
– First IIF within next year.
– Expected three launches per year
– Launch on expected requirement
(not to upgrade capability)
GPS Status Summary
September 2008

• 19 satellites past design life

• 15 satellites past pre-launch mean life estimate (MLE)
• 18 satellites one component away from nav failure

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• 8 satellites one component away from bus failure
GPS Satellite Locations
September 2008

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GPS Modernisation

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Increasing System Capabilities w Increasing Defense / Civil Benefit

Block IIA/IIR Block IIR-M, IIF

Basic GPS IIR-M: IIA/IIR capabilities plus
Block III
Block IIIA:
• Std Service (16-24m SEP) • 2nd civil signal (L2C) • Backward compatibility
– Single frequency (L1) • M-Code (L1M & L2M) • 4th civil signal (L1C)
– Coarse acquisition (C/A) • Increased accuracy
code navigation IIF: IIR-M capability plus • Increased availability
• Precise Service (16m SEP) • 3rd civil signal (L5) • Increased integrity
– Y-Code (L1Y & L2Y) • Anti-jam flex power • Increased anti-jam power
– Y-Code navigation
GPS Civil Modernisation
Signal Evolution

L5 L2 L1
C/A
1st Civil
Block II/IIA/IIR

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L2C C/A

2nd Civil
Block IIR-M
I5 L2C C/A

3rd Civil
Q5
Block IIF L2C C/A
L1C
I5

4th Civil Q5
Block III
1176 MHz 1227 MHz 1575 MHz
GPS Modernisation
Schedule

• Second civil signal L2C

– Designed to meet commercial / scientific needs
– Higher accuracy through ionospheric correction

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– 1st launch: Sep 2006 (IIR-M); 24 satellites: ~2016
• Third civil signal L5
– Designed to meet demanding requirements for safety-of-life
– 1st launch: Mar 2009 (IIR-M / IIF); 24 satellites: ~2018
• Fourth civil signal “L1C”
– Designed with partners for GNSS interoperability
– Begins with Block III
– 1st launch: ~2014; 24 satellites: ~2021
GPS User Range Error
(URE) History

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L2 Civil Signal Definitions

• L2C – the L2 Civil Signal (1.023MHz)

• Two codes separated by time- TDMA
• CM – the L2CS moderate length code

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– 10,230 chips, repeats 20 milliseconds, data 1227.6 MHz

• CL – the L2CS long code

– 767,250 chips, repeats every 1.5 seconds
• NAV – the legacy navigation message
provided by the L1 C/A signal
• CNAV – a navigation message structure like
that adopted for the L5 civil signal
• Defined in IS-GPS-200D
L5 Characteristics
Summary
• L5 = 1176.45 MHz
• Bandwidth = 24 MHz (20 MHz null-to-null)
• Minimum Received Power = -154 dBW

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• PRN Code Chipping Rate = 10.23 MHz
• QPSK Signal
– In-Phase (I) = Data Channel
– Quadraphase (Q) = Data-Free Channel
– Equal Power in I and Q (-157 dBW each)
• 50 bps data (rate 1/2 FEC encoded)
• Signals defined in IS-GPS-705
• First test launch on a IIR-M (08)

1176.45 MHz
GPS III Program

• Complete review of the whole system

–Not just a replenishment program
–Space, Control, User Equipment
• Optimisation

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–Develop capabilities to meet future user needs
–Cost effective system
–Use of augmentation and complementary systems
• Technical
–M-code spot beam enhancement
20 dB (-158 to -138) more power in new M-code
–6 planes, 27 SVs
• From 2013
–Anticipated first launch
GPS III Payload Evolution

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Operational Control
Segment

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OCS Upgrades
2000 - 2008

• Upgrade Monitor Stations and Ground Antennas with

new digital receivers and computers
• Replace existing Master Control Station mainframe

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computer with a distributed architecture
• Legacy - Accuracy Improvement Initiative
• Build fully mission capable Alternate Master Control
Station (AMCS) at Vandenberg tracking station
• Add IIF command and control functionality
• Remain responsive to changes to SV capabilities
Improvements to
Operational Control Segment

USAF

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AII

5 USAF Stations 5 USAF + 6 NIMA

Stations
Architecture Evolution Plan

• Replaces current Legacy OCS

• Phased transition minimized technical risk
• Enhanced Phased Operations Transition (EPOT)

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successfully completed 14 Sept 2007
• Operational Acceptance and legacy deactivation
Contact Details

Professor Terry Moore

Director IESSG
The University of Nottingham

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University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
UK

• Telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 3886

• Fax: +44 (0) 115 951 3881
• Email: terry.moore@nottingham.ac.uk
• WWW: www.nottingham.ac.uk/iessg