Satellites may work just fine after Y2k

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but can we talk to them? Excerpts from CBD:

-------------------

SUBJECT: R--Y2K UPGRADE

DESC: Technical Services to upgrade the AFSATCOM Monitoring System to be Y2K compliant. Requirement includes installation kits, training, and data. Synopsis for subcontracting opportunity only The approximate issue/response date will be 12 MAY 1999. The anticipated award date will be 31 MAY 1999.

Specifications, plans, or drawings relating to the procurement described are incomplete or not available and cannot be furnished by the Government. -------------------

Hope they have enough time.

-- B (bendere@dondat.com), April 23, 1999

Answers

An older thread on this is at:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000Lrp

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), April 23, 1999.


A new article:

http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1999/0419/web-gps-4-22-99.html

"U.S. tests GPS satellites for Y2K compliance"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), April 23, 1999.


Maybe the satellites will stop and wait: for contracts to be awarded (this (May 1999) is only the "submit" date for the bids), then they still apparentlly have to research the bids, make the awards, hire the extra people needed, FIND the drawings and spec's, or WRITE the new ones, re-program it, re-build it, re-test it, install the changes, re-test the changes, .....

Ain't gonna happen. Wonder if this is one of those 92% "non-critical" federal systems that no body is worried about.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), April 23, 1999.


Try this thread also http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000N3l

AFSATCOM is strictly Air Force communciations. But it's not the only way the air force communicates; they use ground lines as well as commercial comm for their links. Seems rather silly that this particular contract will be awarded May 31 but not even the air force is that silly to think an entire system will be remediated within six months. Gotta believe that it's only a small piece of the system.

The one good thing about AFSATCOM is that it's old and therefore uses very simple tecnology, nothing fancy. Last I heard they were to replace this system (that was ten years ago). Oh well, that's the gov's pace for ya.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), April 23, 1999.


Sats problems will be handled from the ground. It is much cheaper to install another converter on some earth station than to fly another bird.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), April 23, 1999.


Paul, can you explain that a little? If the on-board processors are not compliant, will the ground station be able to upload a fix? Does that also cover the chips? I agree putting up another bird is not viable.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), April 23, 1999.

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