Intelsat plans to add WAAS payload to Galaxy 30

Articles about GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, WAAS and other satellite navigation systems
kfetter
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Intelsat plans to add WAAS payload to Galaxy 30

Postby kfetter » Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:10 pm

At

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments ... 1658A1.pdf

It says:
Intelsat License LLC seeks to amend its pending application, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20170525-00079, to construct, deploy, and operate a C/Ku/Ka-band satellite, to be known as Galaxy 30 (formerly known as Galaxy 14R), at the 125.0° W.L. orbital location. Intelsat proposes to add additional Ku- and Ka-band frequencies, remove certain Ka-band frequencies, and add a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) payload.

jimh
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WAAS GEO-7

Postby jimh » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:01 am

Thanks for discovering this interesting information. This might be the future WAAS satellite known as GEO7.

In April 2018, a $117-million contract award by the FAA to a company called Leidos was announced. Here is a press release from Leidos:

--begin press release---

Leidos Awarded GEO 7 Task Order to Enhance U.S. Air Traffic System
APRIL 02, 2018

Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a global science and technology leader, was awarded a task order by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop the 7th Generation geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite used for the FAA Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The task order has a four-year development phase, and one 10-year Operations and Maintenance phase with a total contract value of approximately $117 million. Work will be performed in Gaithersburg, Md.

The task order supports the WAAS, a safety-critical system that augments Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS). WAAS enables aircraft to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, including precision approaches to any airport within its service area.

Leidos, along with space-segment provider Intelsat General Corporation and technology partners U.S. Electrodynamics, Inc. (USEI) and Knight Sky, will develop, test and integrate a satellite payload for the program's new GEO 7 satellite and its associated pair of ground uplink stations. The stations then broadcast GPS navigation data that is corrected and enhanced for accuracy. Leidos will also manage the stations to ensure the satellite sends the augmented GPS navigation signals in line with WAAS requirements.

"For nearly 20 years, Leidos has partnered with the FAA to provide technology solutions that ensure our nation's airspace is safe and efficient for both pilots and travelers," said Fran Hill, Leidos Senior Vice President of Transportation Solutions. "This award will allow us to continue to deliver accurate, reliable signals and quality service for years to come."

The GEO 7 payload is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2020. The system will enter its 10-year operational phase in 2021.

--end press release

Source: https://investors.leidos.com/news-and-events/news-releases/press-release-details/2018/Leidos-Awarded-GEO-7-Task-Order-to-Enhance-US-Air-Traffic-System/default.aspx

jimh
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Re: GEO-7

Postby jimh » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:18 am

There is a curious link to boating with the Leidos company: in 1987 they helped design the hull and keel of the America's Cup challenger STARS & STRIPES, which won back the cup from Australia. At that time the company was called SAIC or Science Applications International Corporation.

In 2016 the company merged with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions business unit. Leidos is now has annual revenues of about $10-billion and has 33,000 employees. More about them at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidos

jimh
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Re: Leidos Contract for WAAS Payload

Postby jimh » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:28 am

SPACE NEWS reports that Leidos was given the WAAS GEO7 contract over other bidder Raytheon.

Raytheon was the contractor for the GEO5 and GEO6 satellites currently in orbit.

FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto was quoted in SpaceNews describing the roles of the three newest WAAS satellites:

  • GEO-5 replaces a payload on Inmarsat I4-F3,
  • GEO-6 a payload on Intelsat’s Galaxy-15, and
  • GEO-7 a payload on Telesat’s Anik-F1R.

GEO7 is anticipated to be aboard INTELSAT's GEOStar-2 platform on GALAXY 30 when launched by an Ariane 5 rocket in 2020.

jimh
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Re: Looking ahead at WAAS

Postby jimh » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:50 am

Looking ahead for WAAS satellites and orbital positions as mentioned above:


GEO-5 has replaced a payload on Inmarsat I4-F3

Inmarsat 4F3 is at 98-West and had PRN 133. It was launched in August 2008. It is no longer operating.

GEO-5 aboard EUTELSAT-117W B (previously known as SATMEX-9) is in orbit 117-West and has PRN 131. It was launched in June 2016. It is now operational as of March 2018.

GEO-6 will replace a payload on Intelsat’s Galaxy-15

Intelsat Galaxy-15 is at 133 West and has PRN 135. It was launched in October 2005.

GEO-6 is aboard SES-15, launched in May 2017 and at orbit at 129 West. It has not yet been activated or given a PRN. The FAA projects it will be operational by June 2019.

GEO-7 will replace a payload on Telesat’s Anik-F1R.

Anik F1R is at 107.3-West and has PRN 138. It was launched in September 2005.

GEO-7 in not yet built. It will be aboard GALAXY-30 and is expected to be launched in the first half of 2020 into orbit at 125-West; no PRN has been assigned.

The three older satellites were in positions 98-West, 107.3-West, and 133-West. This was the widest span of WAAS satellites, from 98-West to 133-West, an arc of 35-degrees with a midpoint of 115.4-degrees. The middle satellite at 107.3-West was 8.2-degrees East of the midpoint.

Assuming at some point the FAA will transition to the three newest satellites (GEO5/6/7), then the orbital positions will be (respectively) 117-West, 129-West, and 125-West. This will be a narrow span of satellites, an arch of only 11-degrees with a midpoint of 123-West. The middle satellite at 125-West will be 2-degrees West of the midpoint. The footprint of these three newest WAAS satellites will favor western USA coverage.

jimh
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Re: Summary from FAA re WAAS plans

Postby jimh » Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:28 am

A brief summary of the FAA's wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) can be read in the first article of the FAA's quarterly newsletter SatNav News for Winter 2018, available at

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/gnss/library/satnav/media/SatNavNews_Winter_2018.pdf

To locate other editions of the FAA SatNav News, use

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/gnss/library/satnav/