We knew that USAF was trying to replace ground radar based tracking with GPS. According to
a SpaceNews article, GPS-IIF-7 was the last EELV to use such a tracking system and from WorldView-3 onward, all will use an onboard system that uses GPS to track its exact position and download it to the RSO.
I remember a Minotaur launch from Wallops that was testing a prototype of this system... and was delayed because the tracking radar needed some repairs.
People in the know can say if this is a range wide move, where all launchers will be required to use such a system, or is it an EELV only feature?
What will OrbitalATK, SpaceX, Athena and even SLS use?
People in the know can say if this is a range wide move, where all launchers will be required to use such a system, or is it an EELV only feature?
What will OrbitalATK, SpaceX, Athena and even SLS use?
No requirement that GPS be used has been published to date by the Range Commanders Council. Atlas & Delta IV are the groundbreakers in this move toward eliminating some ground assets, but other range users may elect to continue using radar transponders. This will be particularly true for small vehicles (i.e. Pegasus XL) that cannot afford the performance impact or the cost of development & integration.
I suspect the cost of radar support will increase.