GPS Modernized Block IIR System Test Program and Anomaly Reporting Process

M.H. Jurek, G.A. Franco

Abstract:	The GPS Joint Program Office (JPO), in fulfillment of their responsibilities for stewardship to the GPS user community, has undertaken the task of modernizing the GPS service for military and civilian users. The developmental system test program for Block IIR-M consists of four ground-based system tests and one on-orbit test. The first ground test, the User Equipment (UE) Backward Compatibility (BC) test, using a ground-based constellation simulator in an anechoic chamber, will assess whether the addition of the modernized signal codes and spectral structures adversely affect either military or civilian UE. The second ground test will be the Factory Performance Characterization Test (FPCT). The FPCT will only test the L-band subsystem (LBS) and will be the first look at the Military code (M-code) with the modernized receivers being developed for the test program. The third and fourth ground tests will use the operational control segment (OCS), a satellite simulator, and an actual satellite located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida. Both modernized and legacy user equipment will validate the L-band signals. The on-orbit test will use the Block IIR-M satellite broadcasting valid L-band signals with and without the modernized codes. A combination of all modes of L-band signals, both legacy and modernized, will be stressed. This multi-pronged approach to testing these new signals is for risk mitigation purposes in order to deal with any potential anomalies as early in the process as possible prior to launching the first modernized satellite. However, due to the nature of testing, the importance of GPS, and the growing GPS user community, the concern over any possibility of potential impacts from the modernized signals has made the GPS JPO aware of the importance of timely anomaly reporting during on-orbit testing. Several reporting processes are in place. The GPS JPO will consolidate all anomaly reporting during the on-orbit test period into a single process to reduce the amount of time for anomaly resolution.
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:	1515 - 1520
Cite this article:	Jurek, M.H., Franco, G.A., "GPS Modernized Block IIR System Test Program and Anomaly Reporting Process," 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. 1515-1520.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In