Global Positioning System

Global Positioning System (GPS)
Logo
Country/ies of originUnited States
Operator(s)US Space Force
TypeMilitary, civilian
StatusOperational
CoverageGlobal
Accuracy30–500 cm (0.98–16 ft)
Constellation size
Nominal satellites24
Current usable satellites38 (32 operational)
First launchFebruary 22, 1978 (1978-02-22)
Total launches75
Orbital characteristics
Regime(s)6 MEO planes
Orbital height20,180 km (12,540 mi)
Orbital period12 sd or 11 hours and 58 minutes
Revisit period1 sidereal day
Other details
Cost$12 billion[1]
(initial constellation)
$1.84 billion per year (2023)[1]
(operating cost)
Websitegps.gov
Artist's impression of GPS Block IIR satellite in Earth orbit
Civilian GPS receivers ("GPS navigation device") in a marine application
An Air Force Space Command Senior Airman runs through a checklist during Global Positioning System satellite operations.

The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS,[2] is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force.[3] It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.[4] It does not require the user to transmit any data, and operates independently of any telephonic or Internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the GPS positioning information. It provides critical positioning capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world. Although the United States government created, controls and maintains the GPS system, it is freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Fiscal Year 2023 Program Funding". April 27, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  2. ^ United States Department of Transportation; Federal Aviation Administration (October 31, 2008). "Global Positioning System Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Performance Standard" (PDF). p. B-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  3. ^ United States Department of Defense (September 2008). "Global Positioning System Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard - 4th Edition" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Science Reference Section (November 19, 2019). "What is a GPS? How does it work?". Everyday Mysteries. Library of Congress. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (February 22, 2021). "What is GPS?". Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

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