New NAVCEN chart shows GPS satellite locations

August 29, 2019  - By

The GPS Directorate has approved a change to the Navstar GPS Control Segment to User Support Community Interfaces ICD-GPS-240 and ICD-GPS-870, reports the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center.

The change removes the GPS satellite plane/slot and clock information from the Operational Advisory message. SVN/PRN, block type and NANU details will continue to be included.

The change proposal was approved by the GPS Interface Control Working Group in December 2018.

A depiction of the GPS constellation of satellites with slot and plane designations has been published by the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center as an easy-to-read graphic for use by the GPS user community.

Chart: NAVCEN

Chart: NAVCEN

The chart can be found on the NAVCEN Constellation Status page and will be updated with the commissioning of new GPS satellites or upon any change in the constellation.

About the Author: Tracy Cozzens

Senior Editor Tracy Cozzens joined GPS World magazine in 2006. She also is editor of GPS World’s newsletters and the sister website Geospatial Solutions. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.