Lockheed Martin completed system-level Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing of its first GPS III satellite for the US Air Force in December, the company announced on 3 February.
The TVAC test subjected the satellite to prolonged cycles of simulated space temperature extremes in a special depressurised chamber. According to the company, the completion of the test proves that the satellite can withstand and operate in the harsh conditions of orbit.
GPS III has been designed to 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.
Mark Stewart, vice president, navigation systems mission area, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Lockheed Martin is building eight satellites at its 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.
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
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