GPS Service Set To Deteriorate By As Early As Next Year?
Category: General NewsPosted: May 19, 2009 04:59PM
Author: jammin
Failure to properly maintain the network of satellites that make up the Global Positioning System (GPS) could lead to deterioration in quality by as early as next year, experts have warned. The degradation in the service could lead to potential blackouts and failures, which could affect the millions of people who rely on satellite navigation devices for travel or other operations. A report conducted by the GAO (Government Accountability Office) said that mismanagement and lack of investment in the GPS network, which has been maintained by the US Air Force since the early '90s, could lead to satellite failures. It also said that it was uncertain if new satellites could be acquired in time to keep the service running without interruption. Nearly $2bn is currently being spent in an attempt to bring the network up to date, but delays and overspending have caused problems. A replacement GPS satellite due to be launched early in 2007 for example, has now been scheduled to go into orbit in November this year, after several delays.
If GPS services do begin to fail, then a number of people could be affected, ranging from those who use satnav in their cars to the American military, who make use of GPS for a variety of operations including reconnaissance, mapping and tracking of hostile targets. Location based applications for cell phones, which are becoming more popular, could also be affected. With often crucial functionalities being dependent on accurate GPS data, it seems likely that every effort will be made to ensure that the GPS network remains fully operational. Countries such as Russia, India and China have developed their own satellite navigation technologies, which are being expanded. A European-funded rival to GPS, Galileo is also scheduled to begin rolling out later next year. Is GPS really too big to fail?
