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Marsha and Silent Bob
Past MnGCA President
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
Posts: 6261
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 Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:55 am Post subject: New GPS Sat. launched to replace an existing one. |
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A new GPS sat. was launched this week to replace one that has been in service since 1990.
See stories here |
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SirPoonga
Geocacher
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 144
Location: Marshfield, WI :(
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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The story didn't link right or something.
So does this mean we will get firmware updates to our GPSes?
I'd think the sattelite (sp?) would not be in the exact same spot so the position of sts in the gps would need to change ? |
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PeakShift
Geocacher
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Posts: 28
Location: St. Paul MN
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Here is the text:
U.S. Air Force Ready to Launch GPS II Satellite
The U.S. Air Force is preparing to launch an upgraded Global Positioning Systems (GPS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin aboard a Delta II rocket scheduled on 21-Dec-2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The GPS IIR-10 satellite features significant performance upgrades, including an advanced antenna panel, which will increase power for GPS receivers.
Lockheed Martin said there are eight new-generation GPS IIR spacecraft currently on orbit out of a total GPS constellation of 28 satellites. GPS IIR satellites are designed to improve global coverage and increase the overall performance of the GPS constellation. Lockheed Martin has delivered 21 of these satellites to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. |
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Centris
Past MnGCA Chair
Joined: 27 Nov 2002
Posts: 620
Location: Southwest WY
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 7:04 am Post subject: Re: New GPS Sat. launched to replace an existing one. |
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| Marsha and Silent Bob wrote: |
| A new GPS sat. was launched this week to replace one that has been in service since 1990. |
OK -- my question is what happens to the old one? Still making it's orbit?
Do they just turn it off and let it go or is this something the space shuttle would have picked up and brought home or flung out into space?  |
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Marsha and Silent Bob
Past MnGCA President
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
Posts: 6261
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 7:06 am Post subject: |
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| SirPoonga wrote: |
| The story didn't link right or something. |
My bad, I really should have checked it with a preview first. I blame everything on Kitch or Marsha 
Have a happy holiday everyone!
Silent Bob |
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Kitch
Past MnGCA Board
Joined: 18 May 2003
Posts: 1286
Location: SSP,MN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 8:49 am Post subject: |
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Nobody really cared for a few days!!!  NOW THATS FUNNY!! |
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rickrich
Geocacher
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 673
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 9:05 am Post subject: |
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These new satellites (this is the 10th) transmit their almanac info to your GPSr, so I doubt you will need a firmware upgrade.
Its hard to actually find a quote where somebody will come out and say what happens to the old ones...
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| The new satellite replaces the GPS 2A-10 craft launched on November 26, 1990. Final plans for the aged satellite have not been determined, the Air Force says. "Projected reliability" is the reason it is being replaced, according to the GPS program office. |
They hardly ever tell you how most space garbage is disposed of, for reasons that seem obvious to me. When the time comes, though, it will probably meet a low-cost and firery end in our atmosphere. There's really nothing worth salvaging on the old satellite. "Flinging it out into space" isn't an option as the energy required to do that is too large.
-Rick |
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rickrich
Geocacher
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 673
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