Lockheed Martin Corp. said March 15 its Newton, Pa.-based software integration laboratory completed its first major integration milestone for flight software it is developing for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS satellites, known as GPS 3.
The test event successfully integrated the initial GPS flight software builds and computer processors like those that will fly aboard the Lockheed Martin-built navigation satellites. The risk-reduction test demonstrated the ability to communicate between the GPS 3 spacecraft bus, network communications and navigation elements, Lockheed Martin said in a press release. The software team’s focus now shifts to fully qualifying the flight software prior to integration on the GPS Non-Flight Satellite Testbed, which Lockheed Martin said will serve as the program’s ground-based pathfinder and vehicle demonstrator for the first complete GPS 3 satellite.
The Lockheed Martin-led GPS 3 team completed the program’s critical design review in August 2010, has since entered the manufacturing phase and remains on track to deliver the first GPS 2A satellite in 2014.
Lockheed Martin’s GPS 3 teammates include ITT Corp. of Clifton, N.J., and General Dynamics of Scottsdale, Ariz.
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