Navigation Technology Satellite

Navigation Technology Satellite are satellite demonstration of new Technology related to Satellite Navigation especially for Next-Generation GPS Satellites.^[1][2][3]

The Navigation Technology Satellite-1 (NTS-1) also known as Timation-3 or P73-3, was a U.S. Navy navigational technology satellite launched on July 14, 1974, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, using an Atlas F/PTS rocket. It was a pivotal part of the TIMATION program, a precursor to the modern Global Positioning System (GPS), aimed at testing technologies for precise time-based navigation.^[8]

The Navigation Technology Satellite-2 (NTS-2), also known as Timation-4 or P76-4, was a U.S. Navy Technology demonstration satellite launched on June 23, 1977, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, using an Atlas F/SGS-1 rocket. It was the second satellite in the Navigation Technology Satellite series, marking a critical step in the development of the modern Global Positioning System (GPS).^[9]

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  NTS-2 Satellite Before Launch

The Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) is a satellite to demonstrate new technologies related to Satellite Navigation. NTS-3 will demonstrate resilient PNT in a Multi-Layer space architecture.^[10]

NTS-3 is based on Northrop Grumman ESPAStar-D Satellite Bus. The Satellite is launched on a Vulcan Centaur VC4S rocket as part of USSF-106 Mission from Cape Canaveral SLC-41 was launched on 13 August 2025 at 00:56 UTC.^[11][12][13]

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  NTS-3 Spacecraft During Testing
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  Launch of USSF-106 Misson carrying NTS-3 Spacecraft

• Timation
• Global Positioning System

• Media related to Navigation Technology Satellite at Wikimedia Commons

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