On its 10th anniversary the GPS Constellation gets a boost

**Frenchy** · 09-26-05, 09:55 AM

Global Positioning System has been booming fo the last 2-3 years. This morning two new satellites will join the GPS Constellation. The constellation which includes 24 satellites and a few spares will get a new GPS satellite generation which will provide...More

cherrylee14 · 09-26-05, 10:03 AM

Cool! I don't know if my gps will perform better.

**Frenchy** · 09-26-05, 10:27 AM

It is supposed to acccording to the article. I am not an expert but I asume that it will get better after more new generation satellites are added to the constellation.

09-26-05, 10:43 AM

Would we need to buy new GPS devices to use the new frequency or would existing ones already work?

**Frenchy** · 09-26-05, 10:48 AM

It talks about the increase receptivity on your GPS unit so this mean that you won't have to upgrade.

lvgdgts · 09-26-05, 11:55 AM

Sounds great! I'm looking forward to the other launches to see how it will affect my travels.

EngrPaul · 09-26-05, 12:13 PM

Then I don't need a better GPS unit, the satellites are getting better ;)

Atomic Stock · 09-26-05, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by EngrPaul

Then I don't need a better GPS unit, the satellites are getting better ;)

I wish more things worked that way! :love: gps :love:

im_dragon · 09-26-05, 01:57 PM

It looks like the military has been using two frequencies, while the civilian uses one. The new crop of satellites will add another civilian channel to improve accuracy. That said, I am 100% sure we'll need a new generation of receivers to detect the new signal.

In the end, the military will have three usable frequencies, and we'll have two.

srf506 · 09-26-05, 03:16 PM

It was a beautiful launch last night at around 11:40PM. The Delta (even though I work for the competition ;-) ) did a great jo and looked really nominal in all respects as it flew-out. Hope the ceck out on the bird is as uneventful and they put it on-line soon.

**Graham Best** · 09-26-05, 06:09 PM

To say that the GPS constation was 'fully operational' in 1995 is misleading; there were GPS 'space vehicles' in orbit in the early 1980's. Also, it was only one IIR-M that was launched, not two. They don't go up that quickly. ;-)

Accuracy also gets better with GPS all the time. The Accuracy Improvement Initiative was completed earlier this year with the existing space vechiles that improved accuracy around 15%.

JakeRich · 09-26-05, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Graham Best

To say that the GPS constation was 'fully operational' in 1995 is misleading; there were GPS 'space vehicles' in orbit in the early 1980's. Also, it was only one IIR-M that was launched, not two. They don't go up that quickly. ;-)

Accuracy also gets better with GPS all the time. The Accuracy Improvement Initiative was completed earlier this year with the existing space vechiles that improved accuracy around 15%.

History of GPS. IOC was in 1993. FOC in 1995. And you are right, the system in one form or another has actually been around for a long time.

JMJSelect · 09-26-05, 09:16 PM

ah yes another contribution America has made to humanity. GPS. I remember back in the 90's my dad had a gps in his boat, man I thought that my brain was gonna melt when I saw it in action. Now fast foward to today, GPS usage is increasing rapidly with the tech behind it rapidly improving too. I can see a day where if GPS was unavaible it would be like today if cell towers went out or something similar.

HAPPY 10th GPS.