How Were GPS Systems Developed?

GPS Navigation Systems technology was originallySoviet airspace. This heinous act killed all 269
developed by the United States Department ofpeople on board - all of whom were civilians.
Defense and was meant for military use to keepShortly thereafter, President Ronald Reagan
track of enemies and know their position at allannounced that the GPS system would be made
times. Tracking technology has been around foravailable for civilian use once it was completed.
quite some time actually - since World War II toBecause of this horrible act on the part of the
be exact.Soviets, developed of the GPS navigation system
Navigator GPS design is based partly onwas stepped up more than it ever had been
ground-based radio navigation systems developedbefore and experimentations began in earnest.
in the early 1940's that were used in World WarBy 1985, ten more experimental Block-I satellites
II. These systems were named LORAN andhad been launched into space to validate the
Decca Navigator and were focused on knowingconcept of GPS and in 1989; the first modern
where the enemy was so they could eitherBlock-II satellite was launched. By December of
attack or retreat depending on the size of the1993, the GPS system achieve initial operational
forces.capability and just a month later, a complete
Additional inspiration for modern day GPSconstellation of 24 satellites were in orbit with full
systems and GPS handhelds came when Sputnikoperational capability declared by NAVSTAR in
was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. A teamApril of 1995.
of scientists monitored Sputnik's radioA year after that, President Bill Clinton realized the
transmissions and discovered that because of theimportance of GPS to civilian users as well as
Doppler Effect, the frequency of the signal beingmilitary users which prompted him to issue a
transmitted was high as the satellite approachedpolicy directive that declared GPS to be a dual-use
and lower as it moved away. The Doppler Effectsystem meaning civilian as well as military. He
is the change in frequency and wave length of aestablished an Interagency GPS Executive Board
wave as it is perceived by an observer movingthat was responsible for managing GPS as an
relative to the source of the waves.asset of the United States. With this came the
This team of scientists that was observingcommercial brands such as Garmin Nuvi GPS.
Sputnik's radio transmissions soon realized thatPlans began in earnest to improve upon the
since they knew their exact location on the globe,system for the everyday user of the navigation
they could pin point where the satellite was alongsystem. An announcement was made that the
its orbit by measuring the Doppler distortion. Thisgovernment was going to upgrade the GPS
was groundbreaking and very exciting for thesystem with two new civilian signals that would
military at the time. This technology is used inlead towards enhanced user accuracy and
radar laser detectors too.reliability particularly with respect to aviation
The United States Navy used the first satellitesafety. Also, GPS handhelds would be made.
navigation system called Transit. It was firstSince those early years, the GPS technology has
successfully test in 1960 and was quiteevolved into something that the everyday public
mind-boggling for everyone in the military. Whenuses and uses with amazing accuracy and
the Navy tested Transit, they did so hoping forreliability. What began as a way to keep track of
some quite specific results. Using a constellation ofour enemies is now used to help guide us along
five satellites, they found that the system couldthe way during trips and excursions. Such
provide a navigational fix approximately once percompanies as TomTom, Magellan and Garmin Nuvi
hour. Today's GPS navigation systems like theGPS have made a business out of this.
Garmin Nuvi GPS use as many as twelve satellitesIn fact, the GPS system we have today has
to lock on for instant positioning fixes.many applications including map making, land
In 1967, the Navy developed the Timation satellitesurveying, and commerce uses. Plus, because of
which proved the ability to place accurate clocksthe way a GPS can pinpoint times with amazing
in space. This is a technology that the GPSaccuracy, scientists are able to use it in many
navigation system relies on. In the 1970's, theapplications including the study of earthquakes and
ground-based Omega Navigation System, basedthe synchronization of telecommunications
on signal phase comparison, became the firstnetworks. Who knew that golfers would be able
world-wide radio navigation system. This was theto use a GPS handheld to determine the distance
foundation and building block of today's GPSto the flag.
Portables.New uses for GPS systems are constantly being
In February of 1978, the first experimental Block-Idiscovered and the way that technology is always
GPS satellite was launched into space and theevolving, we are sure that even more new uses
development of modern-day GPS systems began.will come about for the GPS systems. They will
These original satellites were initially made byprobably always be finding new uses too as the
Rockwell International. Now, the satellites we usesystem is constantly improved upon. Next time
for GPS are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.your on the highway, safely look over at the car
In 1983, Soviet interceptor aircraft shot down anext to you and see if it might contain a Garmin
civilian airliner flight KAL 007 as it flew in restrictedNuvi GPS.