An Improved Space Segment for the End-State WAAS and EGNOS Final Operational Capability

Eric Copros, John Spiller, Ted Underwood and Christian Vialet

Abstract:	WAAS and EGNOS will start operating in 1997/8. They both aim to provide, when fully operational, a primary means of navigation for civil aviation. Initially WAAS and EGNOS rely on the INMARSAT 3 navigation transponders. A complete operational system will require additional transponders to provide the required continuity and availability. Now that a better understanding of the requirements for the augmentation transponders is available it is possible to suggest some improvements to the design of these additional transponders. The paper suggests improvements which could be easily incorporated into the navigation transponder. The orbiting of these additional payloads on host spacecraft is also proving difficult in that finding suitable satellites in a useful orbit position and in the required time frame is not as easy as was first thought. The certification problems associated with a shared system could also be a major obstacle to the use of WAAS and EGNGS for a primary means of navigation. The paper describes a small self contained satellite incorporating this improved payload. The satellite is designed for launch as an auxiliary payload on Ariane 5 and will also be compatible with other small launchers.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996) September 17 - 20, 1996 Kansas City, MO
Pages:	1119 - 1125
Cite this article:	Copros, Eric, Spiller, John, Underwood, Ted, Vialet, Christian, "An Improved Space Segment for the End-State WAAS and EGNOS Final Operational Capability," Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996), Kansas City, MO, September 1996, pp. 1119-1125.
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