NEWSBRIEFS – GPS		
		     May 2009 | Comments Off on NEWSBRIEFS – GPS
	  			
  
    
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|  | China launches navigation satelliteChina launched Beidou-2 (or Compass-                                        G2) – their second geostationary                                        navigation satellite recently. The                                        Compass constellation comprises 31                                        satellites – 27 MEO satellites and 4                                        geostationaries. BeiDou-2 is reported                                        to have a lifespan of 8 years. The first                                        phase of the project will provide coverage                                        for Chinese territory – ultimately giving                                        global cover. www.nasaspaceflight.com |  |  
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| China’s SatNav worldwide ‘by 2020’China will provide free global navigation                                        and positioning services with its Compass                                        system by 2020. Chief Engineer of the                                        China Electronics Technology Group                                        Corp said that Compass would cover all                                        of China and its adjacent regions by the                                        end of 2010 or early 2011 – and expand                                        into a global network by 2020 providing                                        a civil accuracy within 10 m without                                        charge. www.news.xinhuanet.com |  |  |  
|  | GPS transmits on new frequencyThe latest-launched GPS satellite – GPS                                        IIR-20(M) – has started to transmit on L5,                                        the proposed third civil signal – 1.17645                                        GHz – which will eventually support                                        safety-of-life applications for aviation and provide improved availability and                                        accuracy. This broadcast confirms the ITU                                        filing of the frequency in the co-allocated                                        Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS)                                        and Aeronautical Radio Navigation                                        Service (ARNS) band. Without this                                        actual transmission, the reservation of the                                        frequency could be lost. www.nasatech.net |  |  
|  | Septentrio offers Dual-Constellation                                        live L5 trackingSeptentrio Satellite Navigation GNSS                                        receivers are now successfully tracking                                        the new L5 signal from GPS satellite                                        SVN49. Researchers and specialists                                        interested in evaluating and monitoring                                        GPS and Galileo signals on two common                                        frequencies can now perform tests with                                        live signals from both constellations on                                        L1 and L5/E5a. www.septentrio.com |  |  
|  | Iridium used to track vehicles in the                                        Middle EastIridium reseller Fleet Management                                        Systems (FMS) has deployed its GPS and                                        all-satellite fleet tracking and monitoring                                        system for KGL Transportation Company                                        in Kuwait. The solution includes tracking                                        and monitoring devices, one on the tractor                                        and another on the trailer and in addition                                        to position coordinates, direction, and                                        speed, it transmits details about the load                                        and driver, route, time of departure,                                        time of arrival etc. www.fleetms.com |  |  
|  | EGNOS handed to the ECThe European Commission (EC) became  the owner of the European Geostationary  Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS)  infrastructure – and entrusted the company  ESSP SaS with its operation. EGNOS   was developed by the European Space  Agency (ESA) under the aegis of a  trilateral agreement between the EC,  ESA and Eurocontrol. ESSP SaS will  be under contract to the Commission to   manage the operations and maintenance  of EGNOS. ESA will maintain the role of  design and procurement agent. EGNOS  is based entirely on GPS, using the same  format as the US Wide Area Augmentation  System (WAAS) – receivers can use both  systems interchangeably. www.europa.eu |  |  
|  | Iridium-based Vessel Monitoring                                        Systems approved for commercial                                        fisheriesThe Faria WatchDog VMS is a dual-mode  transceiver product that uses the Iridium  satellite network for position reporting and  GSM data links when working in range  of shore towers. It received type approval  from the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries  Agency (FFA) for its 16 member countries  and is also type approved by the NOAA for  all U.S. fishery regions.www.iridium.com |  |  
|  | GOCE’s electric ion propulsion engine                                        switched onGOCE’s electric ion propulsion system  has been switched on and confirmed to be operating normally, marking another  crucial milestone in the satellite’s postlaunch  commissioning phase. The Flight  Control Team is now working from  the GOCE Dedicated Control Room at  ESOC, and has continued with a series  of operational checks since the end  of the critical Launch and Early Orbit  Phase on 20 March. www.esa.int |  |  
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