What Is the History of the GPS System?
The United States Department of Defense developed the Global Positioning System (GPS) in 1973 to help the military determine the positions of troops, vehicles, ships and aircraft around the world. GPS is a satellite signal-based network.
Other People Are Reading
-
Origins
-
After the USSR launched Sputnik in 1957, scientists discovered they could determine its orbit from the ground by monitoring its radio frequency. They also discovered that monitoring satellite signals could pinpoint positions on the ground.
Development
-
Beginning in 1965, the U.S. Navy developed satellite navigation systems to help submarines navigate while underwater for extended periods. The ships determined their positions by monitoring the radio signals of the satellites. The Department of Defense wanted to perfect a satellite navigation system and created the GPS concept in 1973.
-
Features
-
GPS consists of a network of 24 satellites that run on atomic clocks. The Department of Defense launched the first satellite in 1978 and the last one in 1993, making the network fully operational.
Operation
-
The U.S. Air Force Consolidated Space Operations Center in Colorado analyzes data from the satellites and transmits daily updates to them. The Air Force monitors GPS from five ground stations.
Commercial Use
-
The military initially reserved the most accurate GPS signals for itself and allowed civilian use of less accurate signals. But today's more accurate signals are available free of charge all over the world.
-
