What is GPS?

GPS is a satellite-based radionavigation system developed and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to determine their three-dimensional position, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world with a precision and accuracy far better than other radionavigation systems available today or in the foreseeable future.

GPS consists of three segments: space, control, and user.

• The Space Segment, consists of a minimum of 24 operational satellites in six circular orbits 20,200 km (10,900 NM) above the earth at an inclination angle of 55 degrees with a 12 hour period. The satellites are spaced in orbit so that at any time a minimum of 6 satellites will be in view to users anywhere in the world. The satellites continuously broadcast position and time data to users throughout the world.
  
   
• The Control Segment consists of a master control station in Colorado Springs, with five monitor stations and three ground antennas located throughout the world. The monitor stations track all GPS satellites in view and collect ranging information from the satellite broadcasts. The monitor stations send the information they collect from each of the satellites back to the master control station, which computes extremely precise satellite orbits. The information is then formatted into updated navigation messages for each satellite. The updated information is transmitted to each satellite via the ground antennas, which also transmit and receive satellite control and monitoring signals.
  
   
• The User Segment consists of the receivers, processors, and antennas that allow land, sea, or airborne operators to receive the GPS satellite broadcasts and compute their precise position, velocity and time.

The GPS concept of operation is based upon satellite ranging. Users figure their position on the earth by measuring their distance from the group of satellites in space. The satellites act as precise reference points.

Each GPS satellite transmits an accurate position and time signal. The user's receiver measures the time delay for the signal to reach the receiver, which is the direct measure of the apparent range to the satellite. Measurements collected simultaneously from four satellites are processed to solve for the three dimensions of position, velocity and time.

GPS receivers collect signals from satellites in view. They display the user's position, velocity, and time, as needed for their marine, terrestrial, or aeronautical applications. Some display additional data, such as distance and bearing to selected waypoints or digital charts.

GPS is used to support land, sea, and airborne navigation, surveying, Geophysical exploration, mapping and geodesy, vehicle location systems, and a wide variety of additional applications.

Will GPS be free in the future?

GPS will be free as stated in the Presidential Decision Document (29 March 1996) and by Congress in the 1998

Both state that the U.S. "will continue to provide the GPS Standard Positioning Service for peaceful civil, commercial and
scientific use on a continuous, worldwide basis, free of direct user fees.

The Global Positioning System reached full Operational Capability (FOC) on July 17, 1995.

What is the Standard Positioning Service?

GPS provides two levels of service -- a Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for general public use and an encoded Precise Positioning Service (PPS) primarily intended for use by the Department of Defense. SPS signal accuracy is intentionally degraded to protect U.S. national security interests. This process, called Selective Availability (SA), controls the availability of the system's full capabilities. The SPS accuracy specifications, given below, include the effects of SA.

SPS provides accuracy's of (for position, the accuracy with respect to geographic, or geodetic coordinates of the Earth) within:

100 meters (2 drms) horizontal 156 meters (2 Sigma) vertical 300 meters (99.99% prob.) horizontal 340 nanoseconds time (95% prob.)

SPS Coverage is continuous and worldwide, with a position dilution of precision (PDOP) of 6 or less.

Effective as of Midnight 01 May 2000, Selective Availability has been set to zero.

***This information was obtained from the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center.