GPS 3 Prototype. Photo: Lockheed Martin

[Via Satellite 11-05-13] Exelis successfully completed factory acceptance testing for the GPS 3 navigation payload simulator software. Developed by Exelis, the software will simulate the behavior of GPS signals in space, which will be used for testing the U.S. Air Force’s next generation GPS ground station known as the operational control system (OCX). The simulator will be integrated into the Raytheon-developed GPS System Simulator (GSYS) within OCX.

“The simulator models the navigation payload function and interface with OCX,” said Kevin Farrell, positioning, navigation and timing general manager at Exelis geospatial systems. “It provides simulation data representative of multiple GPS 3 space vehicles at the level needed to support control segment test events, mission rehearsals, and anomaly investigations, ensuring that the OCX control system is properly functioning before launching into space.”

Awarded in February 2010 by Raytheon, Exelis is on contract to provide critical software elements in the navigation processing subsystem to enable GPS constellation controllers to better understand the satellites’ exact position. This helps ensure accurate navigation information is being securely broadcasted to users. In addition, Exelis is building high-precision receivers for use in ground monitoring stations, and also builds data encryptors to ensure secure information exchange between the ground and space segments of the system.