Interface Control Documents
Updated December 11, 2020
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The communication boundaries between the Global Positioning System and other systems, as well as within the GPS itself, are known as interfaces. Interface Control Documents (ICDs) are the formal means of establishing, defining, and controlling interfaces and for documenting detailed interface design information for the GPS program.
Interface Specifications (ISs) are specific types of ICDs that only need approval from one government office or agency. The procedure and process for development, control, and maintenance is the same for ICDs and ISs.
New ICD Revisions in Development
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10/30/2020: Revised PCNs released -- COMMENT period closed
The Space Force solicited public comments on 3 Proposed Change Notices (PCNs), which reflect further revisions made in response to the September 30 Public Interface Control Working Group and Open Forum.
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9/30/2020: Public ICWG meeting held
On Sept 30, 2020, the Space Force hosted the 2020 Public Interface Control Working Group and Open Forum to discuss the PCNs released in July.
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Current ICDs in Effect
Download 3.6 MB PDF L 08/13/2020 Defines the requirements related to the interface between the GPS space and user segments for radio frequency link 1 (L1) and link 2 (L2) IS-GPS-705
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2.2 MB PDF G 08/13/2020 Defines the requirements related to the interface between the GPS space and user segments for radio frequency link 5 (L5) IS-GPS-800
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3.7 MB PDF G 08/13/2020 Defines the characteristics of the L1 Civil (L1C) signal transmitted from GPS satellites to navigation receivers on radio frequency link 1 (L1) ICD-GPS-240
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2.7 MB PDF C 05/06/2019 Defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Control Segment (CS) and the GPS user and user-support communities during the Operational Control System (OCS) / Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) systems era ICD-GPS-870
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1.5 MB PDF E 08/13/2020 Defines the functional data transfer interface between the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) and the GPS user and user-support communities; captures the same interface as ICD-GPS-240, but for the OCX era
Air Force Memo on GPS Control Segment Software Change
Requests for Other ICDs
Historic ICDs
Interface Control Working Group
The Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) is a specialized working group comprised of appropriate technical representatives from the interfacing activities and other interested participating organizations.
The ICWG serves as a forum to develop and provide interface requirements, as well as focus on interface detail definition and issues.
ICWG members include representatives from the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) of the U.S. Space Force, other government agencies and offices, contractors, and other industry organizations.
ICWGs for documents that are publicly releasable are referred to as Public ICWGs, which are structured the same as the ICWG but with a few additional requirements. The additional requirements include coordinating meetings and documents to the public.
Comments received through the ICWG are adjudicated according to the GPS Technical Baseline Configuration Management Process (TBCMP), which includes an Adjudication Working Group (AWG) and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) / Impact Assessment (IA).
View GPS TBCMP Plan (2 MB PDF)
View AWG charter (1 MB PDF)
For additional information about the ICWG, please contact SMCGPER@us.af.mil.