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Development of the GPS System

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
 

Instructions

Origins

  • Step 1:
    The U.S. Navy launched the first satellite navigation system in 1967. Called Transit, it incorporated five satellites that could provide a fix on a specific location. Using the Doppler effect, it could pinpoint the exact location of a building or ship.

First Generation

  • Step 1:
    The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978. It was essentially experimental, but in 1983 President Ronald Reagan brought the project to civilian use after a Korean airliner was shot down after it accidentally entered Soviet airspace.

Completion

  • Step 1:
    Ten more GPS satellites were launched in 1985, creating a full network that functioned worldwide. The success of these spurred the development of next-generation satellites to help the navigation process.

Second Generation

  • Step 1:
    The second generation of GPS satellites were placed in orbit beginning in 1989. This continued over the next few years until the system reached full operational status in 1995.

Potential

  • Step 1:
    As of 2009, 31 different satellites are in orbit to make the GPS system function. An additional 11 satellites are planned, and preparations for the third generation, to be launched in 2014, are under way.

Resources

Photo/Video Credit

NASA; Wikimedia Commons; Public Domain; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/GPS_Satellite_NASA_art-iif.jpg

Development of the GPS System Provided by eHow.com
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