What is GPS ?

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The very first NAVSTAR – that is to say Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging was launched in the Global Positioning System – GPS on February 22. 1978.

This technologically advanced step has put one hazard of the human existence away- which is to get geographically lost.

The Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging is enabling GPS users to determine their location with a high degree of accuracy.

To continue with, the GPS solution as previously said- is a satellite-based navigation system that consists out of three segments: space, ground, and user.

So, these three segments are being run by a military organization called- the United States Space Command.

The location of this military organization is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Additionally, the command of the United States Space Command is composed of the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the USAF. They are the ones responsible for both space and ground operations.

There are always at least 24 active GPS satellites orbiting the Earth though there are more than 30 at present out there. The first set of 24 satellites was sent up in 1989

The idea of Geo Positioning System or Global Positioning System came from LORAN and Decca Navigation System, which were used during World War II. They helped in the navigation of ships and planes at a long range

GPS system uses the principle of Doppler Effect to trace locations as the change in frequency of signals from the GPS satellites helps in identifying locations

GPS was first used by US for military purposes to fulfil their need of a global navigation system during the cold war

Before Global Positioning System came into existence, navigation system of Navy was being used. However, high speed air force operations demanded a better navigation system that led them to think of navigation using satellites

GPS was called Navstar in the beginning and the first Navstar satellite was launched in 1978. However, the first fully developed GPS satellite was launched only in 1989

In 1983, a Korean Airlines flight was shot down by Soviet Union since the flight entered the Soviet airspace. As a result, President Ronald Reagan let Global Positioning System go public for free, which was till then confined to military purposes alone

.Even after GPS went public, the high quality GPS signals were confined to military purposes only. On May 1, 2000, the restriction was taken off and more accurate signals were available for public use.

Introduction of Global Positioning System in automobiles happened in 1996

. GPS isn’t just about navigation. Every Global Positioning System satellite has multiple atomic clocks and the signals sent out by the satellite includes the time. The signals help the GPS receiver determine the time in 100 billionths of a second and these are used to synchronise time in a cell phone network

At present, Global Positioning System is a part of everyday gadgets ranging from mobiles phones to cars

The popularity of Global Positioning System is such that there are even GPS shoes available in the market. These have been created to locate Alzheimer’s patients in case they get lost.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses satellite signals to find the location, speed, and direction of a receiver

GPS was first developed by the United States Department of Defense for military use

GPS is now used in a wide range of consumer products, from cell phones to cars.

The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil and commercial users around the world.

It is maintained by the United States government and is freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver.

The GPS project was developed in 1973 to overcome the limitations of previous navigation systems