Copy
Headlines: Bill Proposes to Establish Land-Based Backup for GPS; New GPS Satellite Launched in March; Recent GPS-Related Reports to Congress
GPS Tracker

Information for Policymakers from the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)

April 20, 2015

Bill Proposes to Establish Land-Based Backup for GPS

On March 26, 2015, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced the National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2015 (H.R. 1678). The bill proposes that, "The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Transportation, shall provide for the establishment, sustainment, and operation of a reliable land-based positioning, navigation, and timing system to provide a complement to and backup for GPS to ensure the availability of uncorrupted or non-degraded positioning, navigation, and timing signals for military and civilian users if GPS signals are corrupted, degraded, unreliable, or otherwise unavailable." Learn more at GPS.gov.

New GPS Satellite Launched in March

Rocket launchingOn March 25, The U.S. Air Force and its mission partners successfully launched the ninth GPS IIF satellite. The Boeing-built GPS IIF satellites will provide improved accuracy through advanced atomic clocks, a longer design life than previous GPS satellites, and a new operational third civil signal (L5) that benefits commercial aviation and safety-of-life applications. It will also continue to deploy the modernized capabilities that began with the GPS IIR satellites, including a more robust military signal. GPS provides critical capabilities to our nation's civil, commercial and military operations. Operated by U.S. Air Force Space Command, the GPS constellation provides precise positioning, navigation and timing services worldwide seven days a week, 24-hours a day. Image courtesy ULA. Learn more at GPS.gov

Recent GPS-Related Reports to Congress

Air Force Report on GPS Constellation Replenishment: On February 25, the Secretary of the Air Force submitted a report to Congress on "Global Positioning System Constellation Replenishment," as directed by the House Armed Services Committee. The report concludes that, "Overall risk is assessed as low to the GPS constellation and replenishment plan. Thus the USAF is confident in the current predictions for functional availability and the related launch schedule." View report

GAO Assessment of DOD Programs: On March 12, the Government Accountability Office published its annual assessment of DOD weapon system acquisitions. The report includes assessments of the GPS III and the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) programs, specifically discussing technology maturity, design and production maturity, and other program issues. View report

National Coordination Office logo
This newsletter is produced and distributed by the National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT, a central resource within the government for GPS policy information. For more information, visit www.gps.gov/congress.
You are receiving this newsletter because of your interest / involvement in legislative affairs that are pertinent to the Global Positioning System (GPS), which affects national defense, transportation, science & technology, energy & environment, commerce, communications, privacy, and many other aspects of society.

Forward to a colleague >>