GPS Satellite Achieves 20 Years In-Orbit

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The Global Positioning System recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The US Air Force program has come a long way and is looking forward to many more years of technology and development.

On December 10, the United States Air Force celebrated the twentieth year of GPS systems in orbit around the earth, marking two decades of offering critical mapping data for government, commercial and personal use.

The Global Positioning System owes its success to Space Vehicle Number (SVN) 23, launched by Boeing (then the Rockwell Corporation), on November 26, 1990. The satellite was operational for navigation and timing two years later. Though it was expected to last just 7.5 years, with some repairs, it is now slated to live well into its 21st.

Originally, the satellite, Boeing’s GPS Block IIA-10, appeared to be a failure. In just its first year, the satellite’s ability to keep its solar arrays directed toward the sun appeared to be damaged and required the Air Force’s 2nd Space Operational Squadron to manually point the arrays toward the sun for fourteen years. The machinery appeared to fix itself three years later. To date, the satellite maintains one of the best atomic clocks of the GPS fleet.

Global Positioning Systems remain under the purview of the US Air Force, and work with companies like Boeing to maintain the program, which have become critical to American infrastructure for government, private businesses and the general public. There are now 31 satellites in the GPS constellation of varying models.

In the two decades since its original launch, the Global Positioning System has been used for both military and civilian uses, and the GPS system continues to improve. Boeing launched the first of its twelve IIF satellites in August of 2010, and it is the most advanced Global Positioning System in history.

As Global Positioning Systems become more advanced, programs in space, home control and civilian uses will become nearly perfectly synchronized. With these technological improvements, satellites can utilize GPS to become the standard of timing, positioning and navigation.

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Marine GPS – not just for Captains anymore

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Marine GPS systems have come a long way and you don’t have to be a sea expert in order to use one. If you go to sea at all, the Marine GPS could become your best friend.

While Marine GPS has become a critical tool for commercial boaters and people travelling long distances with a GPS system, the Global Positioning System has also developed into a useful tool for recreational boaters travelling shorter distances. Devices have become simpler and less costly, meaning that it’s no longer critical to be an expert on the high seas to use and need a Marine GPS.

It is also important to remember that Marine GPS does not work on its own. The user needs to have some level of understanding of marine safety and navigation through water. A map and compass are important backups in the case of system or battery failure, but with a baseline understanding of how to use water transportation and a destination in mind, the Global Positioning System can be a useful tool.

All Marine GPS devices utilize a navigate-to-point feature, which provides directions and bearings required for a set point. More expensive devices have nautical charts already downloaded, and can provide detailed guidance on locations, routes and other critical data. Other devices can track depth of the water a user is in, and use sonar to track both directions and obstacles in the water.

The more casual users can also use Marine GPS to find fish schools of fish under the water, meaning that it is no longer important to be going on a long trip to find the Marine GPS useful. It is now as simple as increasing the chances of getting a bite on the line and returning to where the trip started. Other systems are configured with a Global Positioning System for both land and water, ensuring that users know how to drive their boat to the port before even setting sail.

Because of the multiple price points and purposes of different Marine GPS products, recreational or commercial boating is made easier with a Global Positioning System. It is no longer important to be searching for massive schools of fish or taking a trip along the coastline. Marine GPS is now important for something so simple in finding the trout in a small lake, and heading home a few hours later.

 

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Magellan GPS Navigation System and the Ford F-150

Navigation Systems are a lot like DVRs (better known as TiVo). People who don’t own them fail to understand why they’re such a big deal, and those who have them can’t live without them.

GPS technology actually consists of three separate components all working together. The three parts are the satellite constellation, the ground control network and the user equipment. By satellite constellation, we mean the satellites in low earth orbit which provide the signals and navigational data to the user’s equipment. The ground control network continually monitors the health of the various satellites and the integrity of the signals received. The user equipment is designed to receive signals from the satellite constellation and computer.

Today’s cars, SUV’s and pick-up trucks come with a variety of extras, from passenger side air bags to the ubiquitous car alarms. Entertainment options range from high-end speakers and CD players to multiple DVD players. The GPS navigation system, however, forms the bridge between safety and entertainment features. While they’re definitely entertaining, they can also become a must-have safety net in your travels.

GPS is used to calculate and display the position and speed of the user and determine where they are and how fast they are moving at any time. This makes GPS technology particularly valuable in automobiles, and rental car companies have been using GPS technology for many years now. Navigation in the commercial automobile fleet is newer, but it is steadily gaining popularity. GPS technology is particularly valuable in the event of an emergency like a car crash or breakdown, as it provides valuable assistance to emergency personnel responding to an accident and to tow trucks responding to a disabled vehicle. Refer to our navigation menu to find more information on truck GPS from our site.

The Global Positioning System is a navigation system originally developed by the US military which continues its’ maintenance today. It is an integrated system of 24 satellites that orbit the earth and through the navigational process of triangulation can pinpoint a position anywhere on earth where a receiver is located. During the 1980′s the government opened up the use of the GPS to the private sector. It is widely expected to become the next personal utility in the same way that cellular phones have over the past couple of decades.

Global Positioning Satellite navigation systems can replace all the maps in your glove compartment and ensure that you arrive at your destination on time. GPS navigation systems are equipped with mapping software and can give you driving directions, show you alternate routes if you’re stuck in a traffic jam, and can help you negotiate a new city. While you’re on the road, a navigation system can also guide you to the nearest gas stations, restaurants, and other points of interest.

GPS technology actually breaks down into two distinct categories – a Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is used for general civilian uses, and a Precise Positioning Service (PPS) which is used primarily by the Department of Defense and U.S. allies. Of course this precise military positioning will eventually filter down to the general public, just as GPS technology did originally.

There are many accessories available for GPS navigation systems. You can, for example, buy software, holders to mount your system to your dashboard or windshield, memory cards, cigarette lighter adapters, antennas, and Bluetooth.

Pick-Up Truck GPS navigation is a special form of navigation, as it is not you who navigates, but computer-software that tells you how to travel to your destination. And frankly spoken, it does the job much better than you ever could. Systems with voice output are a great help as they do not create the slightest distraction for the driver. Everybody could use one and everybody can use one, because you really do not need any special skill to operate these car GPS systems.

Magellan® is the consumer brand of Thales Navigation, one of the world’s leading innovators of navigation and positioning solutions with operations worldwide. Magellan was the brand that introduced the first consumer handheld GPS solution in 1989, and it has maintained its place as a leading global GPS brand for consumers.

With product lines in auto navigation and recreational handheld, Magellan’s current product line up include Magellan RoadMate portable auto navigation solutions, eXplorist handhelds, and MapSend mapping and software products.

There are many benefits for the automobile owner to have their vehicle equipped with a navigation system including saving time, fuel economy, safety, and tracking. Enjoy these benefits for your Ford F150 with an easy to install Magellan in-dash system.

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A Magellan Gps Purchasing Guide

The Global Positioning System – or GPS – has taken the world by storm. What was once a proprietary item used only by the government, is now in demand by retail consumers worldwide. Those who have become used to GPS rely upon its accurate directional services; and the word continues to spread. A Magellan GPS is one of the more popular brands of GPS.

GPS utilizes the government’s network of 24 satellites that consistently circle the earth, providing timely and accurate logistical information. It was designed in the late 1970′s by the United States Department of Defense to be used as a reliable navigational tool for the military. But today, GPS has become mainstream, finding its way to consumers through a variety of convenient systems. GPS receivers are hand-held units that literally fit into the palm of your hand. This portable system has the ability to connect to the Global Positioning Satellites which, through a series of calculations based on longitude and latitude can instantly and accurately pinpoint the user’s location. The screen of the GPS receiver illustrates a map of the area, including roads, terrain, and landmarks, and places the user’s location relative to these points of reference. Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who take to the mountains every weekend have found the GPS receivers to be invaluable in providing accurate navigation and ensuring safety.

Magellan GPS, a brand of GPS receivers, is one of the more popular systems on the market today. While some users prefer to use the Magellan GPS as a hand-held device, others use it as a permanent navigational device that is mounted in their vehicles. In this role, the Magellan GPS uses a destination address supplied by the driver to efficiently navigate the driving route. Further, if your vehicle becomes the victim of theft, it can be effectively tracked by the signals sent by the Magellan GPS.

In other cases, parents use the Magellan GPS as a tracking device to monitor their teenage drivers. The system will ensure that fledgling drivers are not left disoriented in unfamiliar territory and can alert parents to any suspicious activity.

The Magellan GPS, because of its increasing popularity, can be purchased in most retail outlets. Prices vary depending on number of features offered in each system. There is also comprehensive information provided online detailing the different Magellan GPS systems, including features, price, and user experiences. Take the time to research any GPS before you purchase to ensure that it meets your needs with regard to the manner in which you will use the system, frequency of use, and budgetary guidelines.

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