Air Force launches new GPS IIR satellite

The U.S. Air Force has launched GPS IIR-14 (M), the first of eight modernized GPS IIR satellites that are being worked on by Lockheed Martin. The satellites have all sorts of wonderful encryption and anti-jamming technology for the military, but since we can't think of the last time we tried to disrupt anyone's GPS usage for tactical reasons, we're just happy to get some better coverage. Lockheed claims that the new satellites should provide "significantly improved navigation performance" for civilians (always a good thing) and will also add a whole second frequency for our usage. The launch of IIR-14 (M) will bump the number of GPS satellites in orbit to 29 and it seems like we'll soon have even fewer excuses to get "lost" on the way to our Cousin Vinnie's birthday party with seven more IIRs on the way.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:32AM]

So, do these new birds mean new GPS receivers are needed? If so, I'm glad I didn't get the high end unit I've been coveting.

[Web Design Ireland @ Dec 19th 2005 2:32AM]

Well, its very welcomed. No more screeching to a halt and reversing in rush hour traffic when your device overshoots the mark with a "You have reached your dest...you have passed your destination".

[KRB @ Dec 19th 2005 2:32AM]

No, you won't need a new reciever, but a new dual band reciever could perform better. The new frequency is key to getting more acurate positions. If you have two frequencies you can compare the effect of the ionosphere on the signals and correct for it. The military (GPS P-Code) can already do this, hence their greater acuracy. Problem is adding another frequency is expensive and power consuming on the reciever end. Its also worth noting, this sat has higher power and better antenna's and thats gonna help even the oldest reciever. Also, this is only 1 of 24 sats needed for coverage. You are going to have to wait until 2011+ for full covarage with the new system.

[WOV @ Dec 19th 2005 2:32AM]

Actually, there are some indications that the Iraqis believed themselves to have accurate GPS area denial in the form of rooftop-type devices that could protect major buildings, air defense emplacements, etc., and thereby throw a wrench in our war planning that we would be unable to recover from. (Though once you're putting out enough radiation to effectively jam a navigation device, you have yourself become a sort of single - point navigation beacon for something like a reprogrammed / resensored Shrike or HARM (favorite missile name ever,) radiation homing missile, so there's a difficult Catch-22 unless you can make them very cheap and distributed...)

[Griffon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:32AM]

The problem is generally the maps not the GPS, the current GPS's will put you at the cords, they are just usually I half block off because of the crappy data overlaid off on the city grids