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New operations center heralds new era for GPS AIR FORCE NEWS RELEASE Posted: April 8, 2004 SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The Global Positioning System, the space technology that brought space-awareness to many civilian and military users alike, marked another historic milestone April 2 with the unveiling of a new GPS operations center. Building on more than a decade of dramatic performance improvements and innovation, the center marks the beginning of a new era in GPS operations in which users will receive near real-time situational awareness and have the ability to evaluate GPS system capabilities in the context of their specific mission needs. "This new operations center and our new way of doing business will be founded on one primary premise: bringing GPS expertise and data together to maximize operational utility and effects to our users," said Lt. Col. Scott Henderson, 2nd Space Operations Squadron commander. For example, today, a user needing specific GPS system information may face a 24-hour lag in obtaining the necessary data. Tomorrow's user, by using new tools that turn raw data into actionable information, will be able to get the same information via standard networks and have it delivered in near-real-time. For military users, this means that 2nd SOPS will be able to provide immediate GPS performance insight to warfighters in theaters half a world away. The users will be able to analyze specific mission needs and customize or adjust their mission execution in response to GPS's immediate capability. In many ways, the thinking that went into creating the new center was a result of the knowledge gained by 2nd SOPS over many years of experience in the navigation satellite business. As a way to provide more capability out of the current system, 2nd SOPS relied on their expert understanding of GPS capabilities. They established the first step in developing a navigation warfare capability by rethinking the role of the operations center. "We took what we have and squeezed it to the max," said Colonel Henderson. He explained the three parts to the effort in creating a new center. "First, we needed to reorganize -- putting our unique blend of experts together," he said. This meant bringing 2nd SOPS operators, tactics specialists, user experts, civilian counterparts and contractors together in a single operations center, pooling their skills and experiences, all within an arm's reach of one another. "Second, we improved our situational awareness," Colonel Henderson said. "We did this by bringing data together from a broad array of sources including robust data streams from multiple GPS monitoring systems, intelligence networks, and more." "Finally, Colonel Henderson said they took the first steps in building a navigation warfare center." This function will provide future military users with tools for refined military applications of GPS. The new center will evolve over the years. While providing users with added capabilities, it will also ingrain satellite operators with a new mindset aimed at effects-based operations as they expand their role to capitalize on new on-orbit capabilities available with future Block IIF and Block II spacecraft. Block II GPS satellites will be replaced by Block III satellites in 2012. |
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On April 4, 1983, space shuttle Challenger launched on its maiden voyage. The ship carried a crew of four astronauts and NASA's first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. (2min 08sec file)
New pictures and science results from the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on Mars are presented at this briefing from Thursday, April 1. (52min 57sec file)
NASA's experimental X-43A hypersonic research aircraft is successfully launched by a Pegasus rocket off the coast of California on March 27. (2min 40sec file)
Scientists present evidence from the Mars rover Opportunity during this Tuesday news conference that shows the landing site was once the bottom of a salty sea. (76min 48sec file)
Neil Armstrong accepts the Rotary National Space Trophy for career contributions in aerospace. He says President Bush's plan to return to the Moon is economically feasible and has "substantial merit and promise." (12min 10sec)