This is going to be the third GPS launch in just half a year
Quote from: beidou on 02/21/2014 06:08 pmThis is going to be the third GPS launch in just half a year do we know the SVN number GPS IIF-7 yet.
Predict PRN3, secondary possibility PRN8.
Quote from: macpacheco on 05/21/2014 03:19 pmPredict PRN3, secondary possibility PRN8.There is also possibility for PRN4, which was assumed to be take by GPS IIF-6; but the just launched IIF-6 already took PRN6."04/34 D4 Rb1 IIA Rephase out of slot D4...will be replaced by upcoming SVN67"
The comment from NGA doesn't make much sense, since IIF-6 is replacing PRN 4 / SVN 34. But PRN 4 should stay online until IIF-6 completes its checkout and is set healthy for a while before SVN 34 gets shutdown (probably for IIF-9 or IIF-10)
Quote from: macpacheco on 05/21/2014 09:59 pmThe comment from NGA doesn't make much sense, since IIF-6 is replacing PRN 4 / SVN 34. But PRN 4 should stay online until IIF-6 completes its checkout and is set healthy for a while before SVN 34 gets shutdown (probably for IIF-9 or IIF-10)NGA is probably more authoritative than most of people in this forum. Your statement on GPS IIF-6 uses PRN 6 is definitely wrong - it is using PRN 6 and its signals have been tracked by many receivers around the world.
I my lingo, a GPS satellite is not operational until it's set HEALTHY, right now SVN 64 and SVN 67 are broadcasting an unhealthy signal, so it's not operational...
"...the first launch of what we now know may now turn out to be a finite number of Atlas 5/RD-180 cores with a payload that is ALREADY Delta IV qualified..."I would call this the second. GPS_IIF-04 (a.k.a. Navstar-066, a.k.a. USA-0242, a.k.a. Vega) was launched on an Atlas-V(401) after three consecutive successful flights of the GPS_IIF on Delta-IVs. The number of RD-180s has always been, and will continue to remain, finite! :-)-BabaORileyUSA
Since it hasn't been stated yet, I'll pick a fight and start the arrows headed my way... Here's the first launch of what we now know may now turn out to be a finite number of Atlas 5/RD-180 cores with a payload that is ALREADY Delta IV qualified. In several years a payload requiring an Atlas 541 or 551 may be seriously delayed because the RD-180 was "wasted" on a GPS satellite fully capable of riding an RS-68...
Another question, would the cost of storing those satellites on the ground be higher than launching them: Perhaps
Quote from: macpacheco on 07/18/2014 12:36 amAnother question, would the cost of storing those satellites on the ground be higher than launching them: PerhapsNot perhaps, but it is.