Architecture Analysis for a Rapidly Deployable GPS Constellation

The space industry is always looking for new ways to improve the performance of its space systems while reducing cost and schedule. Currently, the new GPS-III satellites broadcast on multiple frequencies and host the Nuclear Detection System, however a possible alternate that uses a smaller, simpler architecture which only employs a single GPS frequency band could be used in certain scenarios. In the case that there is a gap in Earth coverage for a respective band, a single band satellite could be deployed to maintain Earth coverage and sustain constellation reliability. For a new signal that is still coming on-line, like L1C, smaller satellites could be deployed to only carry the new signal to spots where the signal is not available in the case that an urgent need develops. Conversely when a GPS satellite reaches the end of its life, it will leave a gap in coverage once it fails. Employing a small, cheap GPS satellite to fill in coverage gaps could be more cost effective and time efficient than waiting to develop, manufacture, test and launch a GPS satellite with a more traditional all-in-one architecture.