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Courtesy of the United States government |
The Global Positioning System
“Lost in Time and Space: The Revolutionary Science of GPS"
Introduction
In a world where technology has infiltrated every aspect of our existence, one innovation rises above the rest: The Global Positioning System. This tool has revolutionized the way we traverse the Earth, guiding us through the vast wilderness of our planet. But what makes this technology so extraordinary? Let’s uncover the hidden depths of this revolutionary technology.
What is the Global Positioning System?
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere or near Earth. This system is organized by the United States government and is freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver making it a widely used technology for navigation, tracking, and mapping.
How does GPS work?
With over 30 satellites orbiting the Earth, 24 of them are always in use. Each of the typically 31 satellites are equipped with a highly precise atomic clock.
The satellites use an atomic clock because they provide highly accurate time measurements and the receivers use the time transmitted by the satellites to determine their position in space.
They transmit signals to receivers on Earth with their location in space (Which is known because satellite orbits are predictable) and the exact time at the moment, and because radio waves travel at the speed of light, the distance between the satellite and the receiver can be calculated. When at least 4 satellites are connected to a receiver the exact location of the receiver can be known with the trilateration process.
History of GPS
The History of GPS dates back to the era of the cold war in the 50s and 60s when the US military started looking for a way to provide accurate measurements to its troops and weapons. The US Department of Defense launched the project “Navstar” in 1973, the first Navstar satellite was launched in 1978 and the program became fully functional in 1995 after the launch of the final GPS satellite. The name “Navstar” was changed to GPS (Global Positioning System) in the early 80s. The system became public after the order of President R. Reagan in 1983.
Conclusion
GPS has revolutionized many industries and has become an essential tool for navigation, tracking, and mapping. It has dramatically improved our ability to explore and understand our planet. The history of GPS is a testament to human ingenuity and the power of technology to change our world for the better.