Military space programs are prioritizing the construction of spacecraft ground segment systems to avoid instances wherein a satellite cannot perform at its optimum capacity because of insufficient ground segment capability, Space News reported Thursday.
Deanna Ryals, chief partnership officer at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, said a Wideband Analysis of Alternatives study conducted by the U.S. Air Force this summer showed the need to prioritize ground system establishment for future space missions.
The Government Accountability Office identified significant ground segment delays in the GPS III and the Mobile User Objective System satellite programs.
The GPS III’s launch was rescheduled to April 2022.
Andrea Loper, space vehicles directorate acquisition program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory, said the lab aims to have its ground segment system – which consists of user terminals, command and control platforms and network operations – support as many space missions as possible.
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