SVN 36/PRN 06 was decommissioned and removed from the GPS constellation yesterday. It was in plane slot C6.
There are still 6 2A satellites in orbit, 4 are older than SVN 36. 2A satellites were designed for a 7.5 year life. One has been up almost three times that.
Two more 2F satellites are scheduled for launch this year which would bring their total to 7. If 2R-M SVN 49 is set to broadcast L5 only L5 would get some suitable windows. I recall years ago that some GLONASS satellites had an L1 or L2 problem and only broadcast on 1 frequency, so it would work.
At any rate 7 2Fs and 7 fully operable 2R-Ms would be 14 L2C satellites in use, giving a good chance of at least 4 any hour of the day.
Paul in PA
Thanks for these updates. From what I can tell L2C is supposed to be fully operational in 2018. Does that jive with your sources?
I guess having four available a lot of the time would provide a sizable portion of benefit sooner rather than later.
Fully Operational ?
By the end of 2014 there will be 7 functional 2R-Ms and 7 2Fs in orbit. The 2F construction contract was dropped from 33 to 12 vehicles. Those remaing 5 would be only 19 L2C satellites in orbit.
Fully operational is defined as 24 satellites. 6 GPS 3As are under construction, 2 of which are undergoing testing. 19 + 6 = 25 which means fully functional in 2018 is doable at 2.5 launches per year. I do not think the upcoming budgets will fund that much activity.
I have seen RINEX files from GPS receivers that contain L2C observables/ I believe very few receivers are ready for L2C.
Paul in PA