Global Positioning System Requirements Update Dilemma

<p>This paper discusses the dilemma of increasing GPS requirements from the current requirement for 24-satellites to a larger more stringent requirement of 30 satellites. The paper will first discuss the existing GPS Standard Positioning Service (SPS) Performance Standard (PS) requirement and analyze the currently provided GPS level of service. The current GPS SPS PS was last approved in Sep 2008 yet improvements to the GPS command and control system and an increased constellation size (currently 35 GPS satellites on orbit) since that time have allowed the currently provided GPS level of service to far exceed the requirement. This paper then discusses how a commitment to increase the required GPS constellation size and placements within the orbits would benefit both military and civilian users worldwide. For example sky-impaired warriors such as those on the slopes of mountains in Afghanistan or the urban streets of a Middle East city have degraded availability with only 24 satellites due to obstruction of 45 to 60 degrees from mountain slopes. Updating and increasing the constellation size to 30 satellites would increase the number of satellites in view (increased availability due to the increased number of satellites available to obtain a GPS solution) to horizon line of sight disadvantaged users. The USAF is committed to maintaining only 24 GPS satellites and is obtaining suboptimal performance since it is currently flying them in a constellation optimized for only 24 primary slots.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>