U.S. Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing

Policy and Program Update

Michael Shaw, DirectorU.S. National Coordination Office for

Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)

December 4, 2007

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Introduction

• Like the Internet, GPS is a critical component of the global information infrastructure – Scalable applications enabling broad new capabilities – Facilitating innovations in efficiency, safety,

environmental, public security and science

• During the past decade, GPS has grown into a global utility providing space-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) – Consistent, predictable, dependable policy and

performance– Augmentations improve performance

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U.S. Policy History

• 1978: First GPS satellite launched

• 1983: U.S. President offers free civilian access to GPS

• 1996: First U.S. GPS Policy. Established GPS a dual-use system under joint civil/military management

• 1997: U.S. Congress passes law requiring civil GPS to be provided free of direct user fees

• 2000: U.S. President set Selective Availability to “Zero”

• 2004: U.S. President issued U.S. Policy on Space-Based PNT

• 2007: U.S. President announces Selective Availability will no longer be built into modernized GPS III satellites

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2004 U.S. Space-Based PNT Policy

GOAL: Ensure the U.S. maintains space-based PNT services,

augmentation, back-up, and service denial capabilities that…

ASSURES SERVICE Provide uninterrupted availability of PNT services

MEETS DEMANDSMeet growing national, homeland, economic security, and civil requirements, and scientific and commercial demands

LEADS MILITARILY Remain the pre-eminent military space-based PNT service

STAYS COMPETITIVEContinue to provide civil services that exceed or are competitive with foreign civil space-based PNT services and augmentation systems

INTEGRATES GLOBALLY

Remain essential components of internationally accepted PNT services

LEADS TECHNICALLYPromote U.S. technological leadership in applications involving space-based PNT services

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WHITE HOUSEWHITE HOUSE

ADVISORY BOARD

Sponsor: NASA

ADVISORY BOARD

Sponsor: NASA

DefenseDefense

TransportationTransportation

StateState

CommerceCommerce

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

InteriorInterior

Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff

NASANASA

NATIONALEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEFOR SPACE-BASED PNT

Executive Steering Group

Co-Chairs: Defense, Transportation

NATIONALEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEFOR SPACE-BASED PNT

Executive Steering Group

Co-Chairs: Defense, Transportation

NATIONAL COORDINATION

OFFICEHost: Commerce

NATIONAL COORDINATION

OFFICEHost: Commerce

U.S. National Space-Based PNTOrganizational Structure

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National Coordination Office

• Facilitates information sharing, coordination, and issue

resolution regarding space-based PNT programs,

requirements, budgets, and policies across all U.S.

Agencies

• Evaluates plans to modernize U.S. space-based PNT

infrastructure

• Conducts or oversees space-based PNT studies, analyses

and projects with a U.S. National benefit

• Represents Executive Committee in discussions on space-

based PNT within the government, the public sector and

with representatives of foreign governments/int’l

organizations

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Advisory Board

• Conducts assessments; makes recommendations to accomplish national policy goals and objectives

• Twenty-four members; 6 international members– Keith McPherson, Air Services Australia serves on Board

• Met in March and October 2007

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EXCOM Activities

• Program Oversight– Five-Year National Plan

– National PNT Architecture

– GPS Modernization

– Civil GPS Funding

– GPS Augmentations

• Nationwide Differential GPS

– Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)

• International Engagement– Bilateral

– Multilateral

• Spectrum Management– Interference Detection

and Mitigation Plan

– Spectrum Protection Plan

• Outreach– Publications, websites,

exhibits

– Conferences and other venues

– Coordination of U.S. message

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Current Constellation

• 14 Block IIA satellites operational

• 12 Block IIR satellites operational

• 4 Block IIR-M satellites operational– Transmitting new second civil signal (L2C)

– 4 Block IIR satellites remain to be launched

• Continuously assessing constellation health to determine launch need– Next IIR-M launch planned for Dec 07

– First IIF projected for launch early 2009

• Global GPS civil service performance commitment met continuously since 1993

30 Operational Satellites (Nominal Constellation: 24)

30 Operational Satellites (Nominal Constellation: 24)

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GPS constellation –Delivering excellent performance

Standard

Performance Improving

Performance Improving

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GPS Modernization

• System-wide improvements in:

– Accuracy

– Availability

– Integrity

– Reliability

• Backward compatibility

• Robustness against interference

• Improved indoor, mobile, and urban use

• Interoperability with other space-based PNT systems

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GPS Program Update

• Transitioned GPS Operational Control Segment– 14 Sep 07

– Legacy control segment over 20 years old; cumbersome operations

• Upgrading GPS ground segment – OCX – 2012 - 2016

– Will implement full functionality for L2C and L5

– In source selection - anticipate contract award – by end of 2007

• Acquiring next generation of GPS satellites – GPS IIIA

– In source selection - anticipate contract award – early 2008

• GPS SPS Performance Standard update in progress – Apr 08

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GPS OCS Transition

• Operational Control Segment (OCS) transitioned from old to new architecture – Sep 07

– Called the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP)

– Migrated from mainframe to distributed architecture

– Makes OCS easier to operate and maintain

– Two new control stations

• New Mod at Schriever AFB

• New Alternate MCS (AMCS) at Vandenberg AFB

– Provides flexibility to incorporate future requirements

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GPS III Satellites

• Needed to accommodate increasing requirements

– Separate contracts for space and ground segments

– Development approach to reduce risk, increase

flexibility

– Provides operational capability for second (L2C) and

third (L5) civil signals

• In combination with GPS IIR-M and IIF satellites

– Delivers L1C for interoperability with Galileo

– Significant increase in system accuracy

– Improved availability of accuracy with integrity

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Modernized GPS – Civil Signals

• Second civil signal (“L2C”) starts with GPS Block IIR-M– Designed to meet commercial needs

• Higher accuracy through ionospheric correction

• Higher effective power and improved data structure reduce interference

• Speed up signal acquisition and enable miniaturization of receivers

– First Launch Sep 2005; expect 24 satellites: ~2014

• Third civil signal (“L5”) starts with GPS Block IIF – Designed to meet requirements for transportation safety-of-life

(aviation)

• Highly protected Aeronautical Radio Navigation Service (ARNS) band

– First launch: ~2009; 24 satellites: ~2016

• Fourth civil signal (“L1C”) starts with GPS Block III– Designed with international partners to enable GNSS

interoperability

– First launch: ~2013; 24 satellites: ~2021

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Augmentations

Ground-Based Augmentations (NDGPS, GRAS, LAAS, etc.)

International GNSS Service Global Differential GPS System

Space-Based Augmentations

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U.S. GPS Augmentation Update

• Wide Area Augmentation System commissioned in 2003

– Two GEO satellites launched in 2005 (Galaxy XV & Anik F1R)

• Provides dual satellite coverage over the U.S.

– Service expanded into Canada and Mexico – operational Sep 07

• New reference stations (5 Mexico and 4 Canada)

• Nationwide DGPS System (NDGPS)

– DOT assessing need for inland component - 31 Jan 08

• Maritime NDGPS component remain operational

– Federal Register Notice released 1 Aug 07

• Comment period ended 1 Oct; still accepting comments

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GPS Selective Availability

• Selective Availability (SA) feature was used in the past to intentionally degrade civilian GPS service

– First fully implemented in 1995

– Discontinued (set zero) by the President in May 2000

– Has not been used since

• President approved DoD recommendation that next generation of GPS satellites (GPS III) will be built without Selective Availability feature

– Secretary of Transportation Peters made announcement at ICAO General Assembly on 18 Sept 2007

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Summary

U.S. Space-based PNT effort progressing significantly in areas of policy, programs and international

• Implementation of 2004 Policy proceeding– Very active senior USG leadership

• Continuing to improve USG space-based PNT system performance

• International cooperation is a top priority for USG– Actively engaged in multi-lateral/bi-lateral

consultationsAs new space-based GNSS emerge globally, compatibility and interoperability is the key to

“success for all”

As new space-based GNSS emerge globally, compatibility and interoperability is the key to

“success for all”

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Web-based Information

• PNT.gov established to distribute information on the U.S. national Executive Committee– Information on U.S. National Policy, Exec Committee

membership, Advisory Board and frequently asked questions

– Recent SA announcement and ICAO offer letter

– All recent public presentations

• GPS.gov established for public information about GPS applications– Available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and

Chinese

– Brochure also available in hardcopy upon request

– Contains additional links to various other web sites

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Contact Information

Michael E. ShawDirector

U.S. National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT

14th and Constitution Ave, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20230

Ph: (202) 482-5809 Fax: (202) 482-4429

Michael.Shaw@pnt.gov

This Presentation and other GPS information available:

www.PNT.gov