Aug 26 2010
Honeywell International, a Fortune 100 manufacturing and technology giant based in Phoenix, declared that the CDR (critical design reviews) milestone has been crossed by their OBC (on board computer), IMU (inertial measurement unit) and RWA (reaction wheel assembly) components. These devices are to be incorporated into Lockheed Martin’s USAF (United States Air Force) GPS (global positioning satellite) III program.
Honeywell Aerospace's Vice President of Space, Missiles and Munitions, Dave Douglass, stated that the victorious completion of the CDR proves that IMU, RWA, and the OBC have undergone an exacting design period using both the program management basics and engineering systems of the GPS III. He also mentioned that the OBC would operate flight code, supplying thermal control, attitude, and power to the GPS.
The complete three-component package will be transported to Lockheed Martin. Honeywell’s OBC is to take care of the GPS’ long distance measurement, command, and tracking subsystems, and also supply the superfluous processors needed through transfer orbit, launch, disposal, and nominal operations. It is also the only original high speed processing system, hardened by radiation and supported by Power PC technology, used for working in the robust radiation settings of the GPS III.
The other two components that operate in the attitude control subsystems are the IMU and RWA. IMU supplies attitude reference data for the satellite and replaces former sensors with fiber optic gyroscopes to enhance competency levels by 50%. RWA furnishes momentum control and hence additional accuracy in positioning to the GPS users at the ground level.
The USAF GPS, programmed to commence operations by the year 2014, will provide positioning data and accurate timing along with supplementary signals for anti-jamming devices vital for the military operations in the U.S.
Source: http://www.honeywell.com