 Artist's impression of a GPS Block III satellite in orbit | |||
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States | ||
| Operator | US Space Force | ||
| Applications | Navigation satellite | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Bus | Lockheed Martin A2100M | ||
| Launch mass | 3,880 kg (8,550 lb)[1] | ||
| Dry mass | 2,269 kg (5,002 lb) | ||
| Power | 4480 watts (end of life) | ||
| Batteries | Nickel–hydrogen battery | ||
| Regime | Semi-synchronous Medium Earth orbit | ||
| Design life | 15 years (planned) | ||
| Production | |||
| Status | Production complete | ||
| Built | 10[2] | ||
| Launched | 6 | ||
| Operational | 6[3] | ||
| Maiden launch | 23 December 2018[4] | ||
| Last launch | 18 January 2023[5] | ||
| Related spacecraft | |||
| Derived from | GPS Block IIF | ||
| |||
GPS Block III (previously Block IIIA) consists of the first ten GPS III satellites, which are used to keep the Navstar Global Positioning System operational. Lockheed Martin designed, developed and manufactured the GPS III Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST) and all ten Block III satellites.[6] The first satellite in the series was launched in December 2018.[7][8][9]
- ^ "GPS III fact sheet" (PDF). LockheedMartin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Sixth GPS III Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Launches As Part Of Constellation Modernization". Lockheed Martin. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "GPS Constellation Status". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (23 December 2018). "SpaceX closes out year with successful GPS satellite launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Space X stream". youtube.com. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Contracts to Begin Work on Next Set of GPS III Satellites" (Press release) Lockheed Martin 25 February 2013
- ^ Whitney, Steven (1 December 2017). "Directions 2018: The GPS year in review". GPS World. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ Brissett, Wilson (7 November 2017). "SMC Releases Draft RFP for Five EELV Launches". Air Force Association. Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "Global Positioning System: Better Planning and Coordination Needed to Improve Prospects for Fielding Modernized Capability" (PDF). US Government Accountability Office (GAO). December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
