“So, we are relieved to work with the program office to start more commercial line,” Pardi said. “And when I say commercial in this particular aspect, just to make it clear, it is fulfilling the same GSAP mission. Our operators will fly the GSSAP system using the same ground system and now using their data, but they will use it with a faster, commercial construction times … and use it with a less expensive, less expensive.”
The next general GSSAP spacecraft can not meet the standard just like satellites of the spacecraft space force, but this change comes with more benefits from low cost and faster timeline. It will be targeted by a non -class and will be open to several shopkeepers to create and launch space surveillance satellite, which will injure the program to some extent. It will also be eligible for sale to other countries.
More for less with GPS
There is another area where Prady said the space force was surprised to offer a trade satellite builder. Last year, the Pentagon used a new “Quick Start” purchase model to establish a program to strengthen the GPS Navigation Network by Congress, which is operated by the Space Force, but depends on the fact that commercial consumers and private citizens around the world depend on it.
In the space force, more than 30 GPS satellite in the medium -earth orbit (MEO) is at a height of about 12,550 miles (20,200 km). Pardi said the network is “weak” because the tower has relatively few satellites, which are at least related to the latest space force programs. In the MEO, the satellite is directly within the limits of anti -satellite weapons. Many GPS satellites are old, and new people built by Lockheed Martin cost about $ 250 million. With the flexible GPS program, the space force aims to reduce the price up to $ 50 million to $ 80 million in each satellite.
The satellite will be smaller than flying GPS satellite today and will move a basic set of signals. “W“Portie wants to add more flexibility and more numbers,” said Portie.
“We didn’t really think that we were going to get a lot honestly with you, and it’s a surprise to us, and learning an important [opportunity] For us, learning last year that satellite prices wereTTHey was already low in Liu, but he was coming down into the Mayo, “Pardi said.” So, he assured us that we should move forward with it. The results have really been more amazing and encouraging as we thought.
“ [satellite] Buses actually bring a higher strength level than our current record program, which allows us to punch through jam in a better sense. “We can get better results, over time, walking behind these commercial buses,” Pradie said. “So because of this, we have to think, our main line GPS system L, we are actually looking for it for alternative ways.”
Major General Stephen Pardi oversees the Pentagon’s space force acquisition programs.
Credit: Washington Post through Jonathan Newton/Getty Images
In September, the Space Force signed four contracts to the Austrian, Axent, L3 Harris, and SierraSpace to create designed concepts for the new flexible GPS satellite. Austrian and axis are relatively new for satellite manufacturing. Astranis is a leading Joycenconus orbit in low mass internet satellite, and unconventional defense contractor. The Axent, which was acquired by a company called Estroon last year, focused on producing small cubses.
According to the Space Force, the army will later choose one or more of these companies to move forward with eight flexible GPS satellite for launch by 2028. Initial plans are already underway for the follow -up set of flexible GPS satellite with additional capabilities.
The experience of the R-GPS program impressed the space force to look at other mission areas, which may be well presented with a similar purchase approach. He settled on GSSAP as the next border.
NRO Director Skilley said his agency was examining how to use the trade satellite tower for other purposes beyond the imaging of the land. He said it could include a program to employ a commercially purchased satellite for signal intelligence missions.
“This is not just a commercial imagery,” said Skilli. “It is also a commercial RF (radio frequency, or cigent) and modern phenomology where we are working with the industry to help go and move them forward.”