revision
05-21-2009, 11:25 AM
GPS system in US could fail by 2010
Thu, 21 May 2009 09:47:19 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=95494§ionid=3510208
While technology addicts can not find their way home without GPS, US Air Force mismanagement and underinvestment could lead to GPS blackout by 2010.
The Global Positioning System (GPS), is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) developed by the United States Department of Defense and managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing.
A federal watchdog agency has warned the US Congress that the risk of failure starts in 2010, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report quoted by PC World.
According to the Government Accountability Office report, "In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals" as part of a $2 billion modernization program.
"If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites, there will be an increased likelihood that in 2010, as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the US government commits to."
Considered by the GAO to be "essential to national security," the GPS is widely used by millions of people and businesses that rely on the satellite-based navigation systems built into cars, boats and smartphones.
As of 2009, the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS. With such gaps and breakdowns in the American system, it has forced the rest of the world to think of their own positioning systems.
The Russian GLONASS is a GNSS in the process of being restored to full operation. China has indicated it will expand its regional Beidou navigation system into the global COMPASS navigation system by 2015.
The European Union's Galileo positioning system is a GNSS in initial deployment phase, scheduled to be operational by 2013.
Thu, 21 May 2009 09:47:19 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=95494§ionid=3510208
While technology addicts can not find their way home without GPS, US Air Force mismanagement and underinvestment could lead to GPS blackout by 2010.
The Global Positioning System (GPS), is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) developed by the United States Department of Defense and managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing.
A federal watchdog agency has warned the US Congress that the risk of failure starts in 2010, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report quoted by PC World.
According to the Government Accountability Office report, "In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals" as part of a $2 billion modernization program.
"If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites, there will be an increased likelihood that in 2010, as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the US government commits to."
Considered by the GAO to be "essential to national security," the GPS is widely used by millions of people and businesses that rely on the satellite-based navigation systems built into cars, boats and smartphones.
As of 2009, the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS. With such gaps and breakdowns in the American system, it has forced the rest of the world to think of their own positioning systems.
The Russian GLONASS is a GNSS in the process of being restored to full operation. China has indicated it will expand its regional Beidou navigation system into the global COMPASS navigation system by 2015.
The European Union's Galileo positioning system is a GNSS in initial deployment phase, scheduled to be operational by 2013.