Table 1 1. NTS and Block I Satellite Launch Dates and Status
Navstar
Space
PRN Code
Number
Vehicle No.
Number
Launch Date
Status (June 95)
(SVN)
NTS 1
14 Jul 74
Deactivated
NTS 2
23 Jun 77
Deactivated Jan 78
I 1
1
22 Feb 78
Deactivated 25 Jan 80
I 2
2
12 May 78
Deactivated 30 Aug 80
I 3
3
06 Oct 78
Deactivated 19 Apr 92
I 4
4
11 Dec 78
Deactivated 06 Sep 86
I 5
5
09 Feb 80
Deactivated 28 Nov 83
I 6
6
26 Apr 80
Deactivated 05 Mar 91
I 7
7
18 Dec 81
Launch Failure
I 8
8
14 Jul 83
Deactivated 4 May 93
I 9
9
13 Jun 84
Deactivated 28 Feb 94
I 10
10
12
08 Sep 84
Operational
I 11
11
09 Oct 85
Deactivated 14 Apr 94
The first Control Segment consisted of a control station, ground antenna, and monitor station
located at Vandenberg AFB in California, supported by additional monitor stations located at
Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, Anderson AFB in Guam, and the Naval Communications Station in
Hawaii. This Phase I Control Segment was designated the Initial Control System (ICS).
The first user equipment (UE) testing began at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) in March 1977
using ground transmitters to simulate the GPS satellites. As the Block I satellites were launched,
a combination of satellites and ground transmitters were used for testing until December 1978,
when four satellites were available to provide limited 3 D navigation capability. Shipborne UE
was tested off the coast of California starting in October 1978 when three GPS satellites were
available for two dimensional (2
D) navigation.
1.6.3 Phase II Full Scale Development (1979 1985)
In September 1980, a contract was awarded to upgrade and operate the ICS, as well as develop
an Operational Control System (OCS). The ICS upgrades ensured continued support to the UE
test team while the OCS was being developed. OCS equipment was delivered to Vandenberg
AFB in May 1985. In October 1985, after installation and initial testing, the OCS conducted
dual operations with the ICS. The OCS equipment was moved from Vandenberg to its permanent
site at Falcon AFB by the end of 1985. In December 1980, the contractor was
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