SES-15 to Carry FAA Wide Area Augmentation System Payload

When SES-15 launches in Q2 2017, it will carry a Federal Aviation Administration Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) payload for more-precise GPS tracking of aircraft, SES said in an FCC International Bureau filing Monday, asking the agency for authority for a new antenna at its Somis, California, teleport to communicate with the WAAS payload. SES said the satellite's WAAS data will go to WAAS-enabled GPS receivers. The company said the Somis earth station will be used as a ground uplink station, transmitting the WAAS signal to the satellite via extended C-band frequencies, with the data relayed to GPS receivers using L-band GPS frequencies.