GPS Modernization of the Control Segment in Relation to Master Control Station and Crew Operations

S.A. Brown

Abstract:	The GPS control segment centers around the Master Control Station (MCS) located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and the men and women who run it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each day the 2d Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) and its reserve component, the 19th Space Operations Squadron (19 SOPS), conduct over 65 satellite contacts on the largest military satellite constellation in the world. This number does not include the many thruster burns and navigation maintenance actions needed to keep the GPS constellation performing at its highly accurate level. Over the course of the next ten years, several major changes will greatly alter how GPS command and control operations are conducted. The Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) and Launch Anomaly Disposal Operation (LADO) are expected to be complete in the next few years. In addition to the hardware/software upgrades at 2 SOPS, there are several operational changes that will affect not only military users, but civilian users as well. These changes may take the form of a GPS Operations Center (GOC). This paper explains the current operations of the GPS system and examines how modernization will effect these operations.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003) September 9 - 12, 2003 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	1510 - 1514
Cite this article:	Brown, S.A., "GPS Modernization of the Control Segment in Relation to Master Control Station and Crew Operations," Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003), Portland, OR, September 2003, pp. 1510-1514.
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