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Lockheed-built GPS satellites mark 50 years on orbit LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS RELEASE Posted: February 27, 2006 The fleet of Global Positioning System (GPS) Block 2R satellites designed and built by Lockheed Martin to significantly enhance the overall performance of the GPS constellation has now accumulated 50 years of successful in-orbit operations.
GPS 2R satellites have been delivering precise navigation service to the U.S. military as well as civil users world-wide since the first successful launch of a GPS 2R satellite on July 23, 1997. There are currently 13 operational Block 2R satellites within the overall 28-spacecraft constellation, including the first modernized 2R satellite recently declared fully operational for GPS users around the globe following extensive on-orbit testing of the spacecraft's new military and civilian signals. "GPS has not only proven to be a national asset for our military, but has also become an important service for civil and commercial users around the globe," said Dr. Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Navigation Systems. "We take great pride in the sustained performance of the GPS 2R satellites on-orbit and look forward to delivering greater navigation capabilities now that we are launching the modernized series." Designated GPS 2R-M, these spacecraft incorporate two new signals and enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, as well as a second civil signal, thus providing military and civilian users of the navigation system with greatly improved capabilities. GPS modernization is being performed at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Valley Forge, Pa., and ITT Industries in Clifton, N.J. The team is now gearing up for the launch of the second 2R-M satellite scheduled for liftoff in 2006 from Cape Canaveral. The third spacecraft has been delivered to storage for launch later this year, and assembly, and integration and test of the fourth satellite is underway following ITT's recent delivery of the modernized payload. Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver eight 2R-M satellites for its customer, the Navstar GPS Joint Program Office, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users. Lockheed Martin is also leading a team competing to build the next-generation Global Positioning System, known as GPS Block 3. The new program will address the challenging military transformational and civil needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved system security and accuracy, and reliability. GPS Block 3 will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for positioning and timing services. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion. |
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With two weeks until its arrival at the red planet, NASA and Lockheed Martin officials hold this Feb. 24 news conference on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The briefing explains how the MRO spacecraft will fire its engines to enter into orbit around Mars and the mission's scientific goals to examine the planet like never before.
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As part of Lockheed Martin's plans for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the company has announced that final assembly and testing of the capsules will be performed at the Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building. Lockheed Martin officials, Florida's lieutenant governor, the local congressman and a county economic development leader held this press conference Feb. 22 to unveil the plans.
The space shuttle program performed its first dazzling nighttime launch with Challenger's August 1983 mission. A cockpit camera mounted beside commander Dick Truly captured amazing footage of night turning to day inside the shuttle from the brilliant flame of ascent. STS-8 also featured the first African-American astronaut, Guion Bluford. Challenger's astronauts tell the story of their six-day mission, which deployed an Indian satellite, used the robot arm to look at the orbiter's belly and examined the glow around the shuttle, during this narrated post-flight film.
The seventh flight of the space shuttle is remembered for breaking the gender barrier for U.S. spaceflight. Sally Ride flew into space and the history books with her historic June 1983 mission, becoming America's first woman astronaut. STS-7 also launched a pair of commercial communications spacecraft, then deployed a small platform fitted with experiments and camera package that captured iconic pictures of Challenger flying above the blue Earth and black void of space. The crew members narrate highlights from the mission in this post-flight film presentation.
Commander Steve Lindsey and his crew, the astronauts set to fly the second post-Columbia test flight, hold an informal news conference with reporters at Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 17. The crew is in Florida to examine hardware and equipment that will be carried on the STS-121 flight of shuttle Discovery.
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin and his No. 2, Shana Dale, appear before the House Science Committee on Feb. 16 to defend President Bush's proposed 2007 budget for the space agency. Congressmen grill Griffin and Dale about the budget's plans to cut funding for some science programs.