A backup network is being developed by companies like Astranis to prevent billions of dollars in losses due to losing GPS.

• The estimated cost of a GPS satellite outage or loss for the U.S. military and economy is over $1 billion per day.
• U.S. Space Force is launching a new $2 billion satellite program, according to Pentagon leaders who believe the initial estimate was conservative.
• Astranis, one of the four companies chosen for R-GPS, has expanded beyond satellite internet with its new line of Nexus satellites.

Nearly 50 years ago, the U.S. Air Force started deploying the Global Positioning System, or GPS, which has become vital infrastructure for both the military and the economy.

According to a Commerce Department study, GPS has generated more than $1.4 trillion in economic benefits. However, the agency cautioned that a potential outage could result in an economic impact of $1 billion per day.

The U.S. Space Force is launching a $2 billion satellite program, R-GPS, to serve as a backup network for the current satellite system, with Pentagon leaders estimating the losses to be conservative.

Lt. Col. Justin Deifel, leader of R-GPS at the Space Force's Space Systems Command, stated that GPS is crucial to daily activities, including the stock market and crop management, as reported by CNBC.

"Water and electricity are like utilities in the economy and in warfare. We need to ensure their availability," Deifel stated.

The priority of the Pentagon to build the alternative R-GPS network is due to the importance of the existing 31 GPS satellites in orbit and the potential threat from U.S. adversaries like Russia and China. The Space Force has turned to the commercial space industry to accomplish this task.

In the previous month, four companies received contracts from the branch for R-GPS design concepts: Astranis, Axient, and Sierra Space.

Astranis branches out

Astranis, which launched its first "MicroGEO" spacecraft last year, is expanding beyond satellite internet into the market for positioning, navigation and timing, or PNT, services with the R-GPS program.

"The U.S. national security community is pushing for proliferation in higher orbits, and the Department of Defense recognizes the potential of next-generation small satellites in these orbits, according to Astranis CEO John Gedmark."

Astranis is introducing its new Nexus product line of PNT satellites, which is its response to the R-GPS program. Gedmark pointed out that the company utilizes the same type of spacecraft for its broadband satellites.

Astranis plans to expand its spacecraft deployment and operation to medium Earth orbit, like the current GPS constellation, with its Nexus product line.

Since its inception in 2015, the company has secured $750 million in funding and has announced deals for 12 of its internet satellites, with 10 of them expected to reach geosynchronous orbit by the end of next year.

Gedmark stated that the platform developed by us was intended for various purposes beyond broadband telecommunications, and the Resilient GPS program serves as a perfect illustration of this.

R-GPS presents a "multi-billion dollar opportunity" for Gedmark, as Space Force aims to construct a full constellation of at least 24 satellites.

The R-GPS plan

The R-GPS program was launched with the help of a new Pentagon funding authority known as "Quick Start," which was used by Space Force.

The program obtained approval from the deputy secretary of defense, conducted market research, hosted companies for an industry day, solicited bids, and awarded initial contracts in less than six months, a process that typically takes three years for space programs.

Gedmark stated that the speed at which the Department of Defense has moved on the program is unprecedented and unparalleled.

SSC's Deifel explained that the companies will have an eight-month "phase zero" period to start their work, which ends in spring, and R-GPS handed out $40 million total to fund the design studies.

The total budget for recurring engineering costs for 24 satellites over the next five to six years is estimated to be between $1.2 billion and $1.9 billion, according to Deifel.

Deifel stated that although the budget does not currently cover "non-recurring engineering costs," he anticipates that these expenses will be considerably lower than the design costs.

The R-GPS satellites will be purchased and deployed in batches of eight, with the first set launching in 2028, as per Space Systems Command's plan.

After the design reviews are completed, SSC intends to choose one or more companies to proceed with the program into the construction phase.

Despite a third-party issue with its solar arrays causing the malfunction of Astranis' first satellite last year, Gedmark is confident in the company's ability to succeed in the R-GPS program due to its experience operating in distant geosynchronous orbit.

Gedmark stated that our company is the only one to have successfully launched a satellite of this type into space, which is a low-cost, radiation-resistant satellite designed for high orbits.