Global Positioning System (GPS) Program Status

Commander Alan Burgess

Abstract:	The Navstar GPS program has now entered the pro- duction phase in all three segments of the sys- tem: Space, Ground and User. The Space Segment portion of the overall program completed launch- ing the developmental Block I satellites in 1986. The first operational Block II satellite (PRN 14) was launched on 14 February 1989. Program man- agement responsibility for the Operational Con- trol System (OCS) transferred to Falcon AFB at Colorado Springs in 1987 and emphasis has been placed on upgrading the OCS components to full operational status and in developing a status reporting system. The User Equipment (UE) pro- gram for the American military is in Limited Rate Initial Production and the decision to pro- ceed to full rate will be made in late 1990. This paper addresses the current status of the GPS program as it is poised to transition into operational phase and considers some aspects which will be of interest to those concerned with planning its introduction into service.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1991) June 10 - 12, 1991 Williamsburg Hilton and National Conference Center Williamsburg, VA
Pages:	397 - 400
Cite this article:	Burgess, Commander Alan, "Global Positioning System (GPS) Program Status," Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1991), Williamsburg, VA, June 1991, pp. 397-400.
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