DENVER, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Engineers at
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently proved their design for the
world's most powerful Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite can
operate in and withstand the harsh conditions it will experience on
orbit.
On December 23, Lockheed Martin's
first GPS III satellite for the U.S. Air Force completed
system-level Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing, validating the design
of the entire assembled satellite. TVAC is a rigorous test designed
to prove a satellite's integrity and operational capabilities by
subjecting it to prolonged cycles of simulated space temperature
extremes in a special depressurized chamber.
"TVAC is the most comprehensive and perceptive test performed at
the spacecraft level. If there is an issue with your design or
production processes, you are going to find it here," said
Mark Stewart, vice president of
Lockheed Martin's Navigation Systems mission area. "Successful
completion of this significant test validates the thermal design of
the spacecraft and verifies that all spacecraft components and
interfaces operate at the temperature extremes of the space
environment. We credit this performance to the Back to Basics work
we performed earlier and the program's unique GPS III Non-flight
Satellite Testbed."
TVAC is the latest in a string of milestones for the first GPS
III satellite. Last spring, the satellite's major functional
components were successfully integrated to form the first complete
satellite. Last fall, the new satellite also successfully completed
acoustic testing, where it was pounded with sound waves to simulate
the vibrations it will endure during its launch.
With eight satellites under contract, the production line is now
on a steady tempo at Lockheed Martin's GPS III Processing Facility
outside of Denver. The first four
GPS III satellites are in various stages of assembly and test with
most major components -- including their structure and propulsion
systems, solar arrays, and antennas -- already delivered. This
spring, with Harris Corporation's delivery of its second navigation
payload, the second GPS III satellite is expected to be integrated
and begin environmental testing.
Components for the next four GPS III satellites are already
being assembled, tested and delivered on schedule by more than 250
aerospace industry companies from 29 states.
"We have a world class industry team supporting the development
and production of GPS III for the Air Force and our nation,"
continued Stewart. "I thank them for their excellent work and
commitment to this program."
GPS III will deliver three times better accuracy, provide up to
eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities and extend
spacecraft life to 15 years, 25 percent longer than the satellites
launching today. GPS III's new L1C civil signal also will make it
the first GPS satellite to be interoperable with other
international global navigation satellite systems.
The GPS III team is led by the Global Positioning Systems
Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS),
based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, manages and operates the GPS
constellation for both civil and military users.
For additional GPS III information, photos and video visit:
www.lockheedmartin.com/gps
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that - with the addition of Sikorsky - employs
approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged
in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
Media Contact:
Chip Eschenfelder, +1 303-977-8375;
chip.eschenfelder@lmco.com
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin