The Air Force is pursuing the next generation Global Positioning System in two phases, according to Space and Missile Systems Center. One phase for the new GPS Block III satellite and one for a new control segment—dubbed OCX—that will be able to control all block upgrades to the GPS satellites. Responding this week to questions, SMC officials said they expect OCX to be operational by 2012. The center plans to issue the contract award for GPS Block III in June, with the first Block IIIA satellite ready for launch by 2013.
The Space Force and NRO will build a large number of targeting satellites to go in low-Earth orbit, the USSF’s top intelligence officer said May 2—keeping with the service’s emphasis on proliferating its assets. For months now, the two organizations have been working on a program to develop satellites that will…