Spaceflight Now is reporting a June 2011 timeframe for the launch of the first two Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites from the new Soyuz launch pad  under construction at the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Center.
The first launch of a rocket from the new installation is now scheduled for December 2010 with a slippage to January 2011 possible.Â
This has pushed back the launch of the IOV satellites.

INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM FROM 25-26 JUNE 2010
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
25 Jun:  Unsettled to Active, isolated cases of Minor Storm at high latitudes.
26 Jun:  Unsettled, isolated cases of Active at high latitudes.

The L5 signal of the new Block IIF satellite shows a very favorable signal strength (Fig. 1), which is somewhere in between the L1 and L2C signal strength for the employed antenna and slightly higher than that of the GIOVE-A/B satellites. While the L5 test signal of the second-last Block IIR-M satellite (PRN1/SVN49) is transmitted through a narrow beam antenna and shows a steep variation with elevation angle, the new satellite exhibits an almost constant flux irrespective of the boresight angle.
To read the entire article select the following link:
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http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/gps-modernization/news/gps-l5-the-real-stuff-10086

Trimble announced improvements to its Trimble® FX 3D Laser Scanner for applications requiring high accuracy and high quality data in industrial plant applications. The improvements extend the range of the Trimble FX to capture high resolution position information up to 80 meters. The increased range allows more data to be captured from each setup, reducing field time and extending the flexibility for use in a variety of applications. The Trimble FX also includes a new compact design and durable housing that combine to increase portability and flexibility when operating in confined industrial environments.  

“With the enhancements to the Trimble FX and our broad portfolio of 3D laser scanners, Trimble is able to offer a range of solutions that address the various application needs for the industrial plant environment,”  said Patricia Boothe, business director for Trimble’s Power, Process and Plant Division. 

An Integral Solution for Plant Lifecycle Management 

Managing a plant’s lifecycle requires a clear understanding of the location and condition of the plant’s assets. The Trimble FX 3D laser scanning solution can be used for a variety of industrial plant positioning applications: 

• Capturing existing condition data for accurate project planning for basic and detailed design;Â

• Ensuring dimensions of high tolerance fabricated parts prior to transportation and installation;Â

• Verifying as-built construction for quality assurance and additional detailed design;Â

• Visualizing real world conditions for training and simulation;Â

• Monitoring plant assets and potential movement or deformation during use;Â

• Planning retrofit construction projects based upon high accurate data.Â

The Trimble FX with increased range is available now.
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About Trimble’s Power, Process and Plant Division 

Trimble’s Power, Process and Plant Division provides a comprehensive range of positioning solutions to transform the plant lifecycle work process—from design and construction to ongoing operation and maintenance.Trimble’s 3D laser scanning hardware and software provides: increased productivity by delivering fast, accurate data with minimal impact to plant operations or project timelines; reduced rework by providing highly accurate existing condition data; and can contribute to improved worker safety through the fast acquisition of data when in the industrial plant environment. Trimble’s solutions are used in the oil & gas, power generation and manufacturing industries. 

For more information about Trimble’s Power, Process and Plant solutions visit: www.trimble.com/plant.

Trimble announced it has been selected by three Australian state government organizations to modernize their respective Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) infrastructure networks for high accuracy positioning—the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) in Victoria, the Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) in New South Wales, and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) in Queensland. In addition, a private network in Perth, RTKnetwest, also chose Trimble hardware and software to modernize and expand its network. 

 

To read the entire article please select the following link: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=834297 

SPACE.com Space.com Staff
space.com Wed Jun 9, 6:00 pm ET 

 

The sun is about to get a lot more active, which could have ill effects on Earth. So to prepare, top sun scientists met Tuesday to discuss the best ways to protect Earth’s satellites and other vital systems from the coming solar storms. Solar storms occur when sunspots on our star erupt and spew out flumes of charged particles that can damage power systems. The sun’s activity typically follows an 11-year cycle, and it looks to be coming out of a slump and gearing up for an active period. “The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity,” said Richard Fisher, head of NASA’s Heliophysics Division. “At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we’re getting together to discuss.” Fisher and other experts met at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum, which took place in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club. 

 

Bad news for gizmos 

People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. But smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A major solar storm could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina, warned the National Academy of Sciences in a 2008 report, “Severe Space Weather Events—Societal and Economic Impacts.” Luckily, much of the damage can be mitigated if managers know a storm is coming. That’s why better understanding of solar weather, and the ability to give advance warning, is especially important. Putting satellites in ’safe mode’ and disconnecting transformers can protect electronics from damaging electrical surges. “Space weather forecasting is still in its infancy, but we’re making rapid progress,” said Thomas Bogdan, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, CO. 

 

Eyes on the sun 

NASA and NOAA work together to manage a fleet of satellites that monitor the sun and help to predict its changes. A pair of spacecraft called STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) is stationed on opposite sides of the sun, offering a combined view of 90 percent of the solar surface. In addition, SDO (the Solar Dynamics Observatory), which just launched in February 2010, is able to photograph solar active regions with unprecedented spectral, temporal and spatial resolution. Also, an old satellite called the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), which launched in 1997, is still chugging along monitoring winds coming off the sun. And there are dozens more dedicated to solar science. “I believe we’re on the threshold of a new era in which space weather can be as influential in our daily lives as ordinary terrestrial weather.” Fisher said. “We take this very seriously indeed.” 

• Gallery: Hyperactive SunÂ

• Video - How Space Storms Wreak Havoc on EarthÂ

• Gallery: Solar StormsÂ

Trimble  announced that it will hold its International User Conference November 8-10, 2010 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. The theme of Trimble Dimensions 2010—Converge, Connect, Collaborate—provides insight into how the convergence of technology can redefine the way surveying, engineering, construction, mapping, GIS, geospatial, utilities, and mobile resource management professionals connect and collaborate to achieve success.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with key industry leaders, build partnerships, develop new contacts, discuss opportunities, and discover how to overcome challenges in today’s competitive business environment.
“In its fifth year, Trimble Dimensions 2010 is an excellent forum to learn how organizations can apply advanced positioning solutions and information technology to connect and collaborate to gain a competitive edge,” said Steven W. Berglund, president and CEO of Trimble.
Attendees of Trimble Dimensions 2010 can:

• Gain insight from keynote presentations delivered by the industry’s most respected leaders and innovators
• Explore the strategic shifts in the convergence of positioning technologies
• Engage in comprehensive and unbiased knowledge sharing with more than 350 sessions—from keynotes to breakout sessions to hands-on training—across multiple tracks focused on professional and business needs
• Visit the Dimensions Partner Pavilion, where Trimble and its partners will showcase and demonstrate their latest innovations
• Meet and compare notes with colleagues and potential business partners throughout the industry
• Choose from hundreds of designated educational sessions that qualify for career-advancing Professional Development Hours

The conference will also include an off-site demonstration and training area plus a Partner Pavilion that will showcase the complete suite of Trimble construction, survey, engineering, aerial and mobile mapping, GIS, utilities and infrastructure solutions, including products from Applanix, Meridian Systems, Pacific Crest and QuickPen. Highlighted solutions and technologies will include GNSS; total stations; field computing and data collection; 3D scanning; pre-design construction planning; 3D visualization; Building Information Modeling (BIM); construction project management; aerial mapping; wireless communications; data transfer; field and office software; and smart grid applications. Other technology providers who are Trimble partners will participate to extend the conferences range of products and applications.
In addition, Trimble worldwide users are invited to propose topics to present at the conference. Proposed titles and a short description of the presentation should be submitted to Trimble no later than July 18, 2010. For more information about the conference and how to submit a paper to present, please go to: www.trimbledimensions.com.

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and Chinese news agencies are reporting the successful launch of the next Beidou/Compass geostationary satellite–this one dubbed G3. The launch occurred at 15:53:04 UTC today. Launch photos here: 

 <http://www.calt.com/xwzx/zyxw/2010060300440966909c.html>

NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2010098
SUBJ: SVN 62 (PRN 25) LAUNCH JDAY 148
1.     NANU TYPE: LAUNCH
       NANU NUMBER: 2010098
       NANU DTG: 280634Z MAY 2010
       SVN: 62
       PRN: 25
       LAUNCH JDAY: 148
       LAUNCH TIME ZULU: 0300
2. GPS SATELLITE SVN 62 (PRN 25) WAS LAUNCHED ON JDAY 148 THIS SATELLITE WILL UNDERGO EXTENSIVE ON-ORBIT CHECK OUT AND TESTING PRIOR TO BEING SET HEALTHY. FORCE DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION WILL OCCUR PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE SPACE VEHICLE IS SET HEALTHY.
A USABINIT NANU WILL BE SENT WHEN THE SATELITTE IS SET ACTIVE TO SERVICE.

May 26th Dibble Engineering had Their Leica GPS base was stolen in Avondale about 1:45 in the afternoon. We were setup on LBUCK 27 at 127th Ave & Buckeye Road. They took everything but the tripod. The following items were taken:
ATX-1230 GG, GPS /GLONASS SMART ANT
SERIAL NO. 187499
RX-1250 C(C) WINDOWS CE SYSTEM CONTROLLER SERIAL NO. 314082
GHT-56 HOLDER
SERIAL NO. 109189
GFU-19 GPS CDMA MODEM
SERIAL NO. 041638
They also go away with a tribrach, tripod bracket, clamp, GEB-211 battery, Y-cable and a red rambo battery.
Jerry Dodd, L.S.I.T.
Dibble Engineering
7500 North Dreamy Draw Drive, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ  85020-4669
P 602.957.1155    F 602.957.2838
jerry.dodd@dibblecorp.com
www.dibblecorp.com