What is GPS ?

When Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, two American physicists started monitoring the satellite’s transmissions. They soon realised that they could identify the satellite in its orbit using Doppler Effect . This would later become the key principle used in GPS system. The change in frequency of signals from the GPS satellites helps in identifying locations.

GPS was first used by US for military purposes. Their need of a global navigation system during the cold war triggered the introduction of GPS.

GPS came into existence, navigation system of Navy was being used. Their need of a faster navigation system for high speed air force operations forced them to think whether navigation using satellites is possible.

In the beginning, GPS was called Navstar. The first Navstar satellite was launched in 1978. Out of the ten satellites launched, only nine made it to the orbit. The first fully developed GPS satellite was launched in 1989.

GPS was open to the public following a disaster.  In 1983, Korean Airlines Flight 007 was shot down by Soviet Union killing 269 passengers on board as the flight entered the prohibited Soviet airspace.

This incident prompted President Ronald Reagan to provide public access to the United States military satellite navigation system DNSS, which is known as GPS at present.

Though availability of GPS was made public, high quality GPS signals were confined to military use until recently. However, on May 1, 2000, this practice was taken off. At present, the GPS for civilian purposes is more accurate.

If you thought GPS was all about navigation, you were wrong. It can also be used to determine the accurate time. Each GPS satellites consist of atomic clocks and time signals that the GPS receiving device can use to obtain the correct time.

GPS has become very popular that GPS shoes are available in the market now, mainly aimed at locating people with Alzheimer’s disease, in case they get lost.

The need for an accurate way for navigating all around the world has been recorded in early history.

Back in the day, people were using a compass, radio as well as the stars to get to a proper navigation. In fact, the moon and the stars were the closest to modern GPS systems

In the foreground, the Global Positioning System, which is also known as GPS, rapidly became an integral part of everyday lives.

Nowadays the development of the GPS has widened up its application far beyond traveling to particular areas up to gaming. GPS facts show us a crystal clear picture that it is a well advanced technological tool that we use it for everything that we can.

So, it goes like this – the GPS system is connected and uses minimum 24 satellites. These satellites are continuously circling around the Earth. Speaking about that, I must mention as well the fact that each satellite orbits the earth at least 2 times a day.

Moreover, GPS devices are orbiting in 6 different orbit paths. These orbit paths are helping the GPS receivers to provide a continuous signal to the Earth.

In the first place, the GPS system in order to provide accurate information it should receive at least signal from 4 satellites.

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.

To start with the space component. This component consists of around 31 GPS Satellites. Yet, at any given moment there are 24 satellites that are operational in a specially designed orbit. Moreover, the aim of these satellites is to ensure that the satellites are in view at the same time from any point on earth.

On the other hand, we have the second space component- it is the control segment. This segment is composed of a series of ground stations. These ground stations are used in the process of interpretation and reliability of the satellite signals. In general, the ground stations include the following points:

Alternative master control station;
12 ground antennas;
Master control station;
16 monitoring stations;

To continue with the third component- which is the user segment. The user segment is the does involve various receivers from all different types of industries. That is to say, there can be GPS users from:

National security;
Surveying;
Mapping;
Space;
Agriculture and so on.