Naval Research Laboratory scientist who developed the Timation satellites
Ivan Getting
Advocated for a satellite navigation system
Gladys West
Mathematician who worked on the geodetic models used by GPS
Plate 092
1973–1995
United States
No photograph is shown for this exhibition. The museum displays an image only where it can show the object honestly.
About this date
The US Department of Defense approved the programme in 1973. The first Navstar satellite launched in 1978, and the system was declared fully operational in 1995.
About credit
GPS was developed by many people. Gladys West’s contribution to the geodesy models was recognised only decades later.
Chapter II
The world before
Life before GPS and Satellite Navigation
Navigation used maps, compasses, sextants and landmarks, or ground-based radio systems with limited reach.
II
The human achievement
How it came about
A constellation of about 30 satellites carries atomic clocks. The US opened GPS to civilian use, with improvements in accuracy after 2000. Other systems include GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou.
III
Understanding the invention
How it works
GPS and Satellite Navigation, explained in two steps.
01
Step 01 of 02
Timing signals
Each satellite sends its position and the time; the receiver measures how long signals took to arrive.
Timing signals
Four satellites
IV
The transformation
What changed for humanity
Everyday life
Maps in phones, delivery, ride-hailing.
Infrastructure
Timing for financial markets and networks.
GPS gave everyone a position anywhere on Earth, and its timing is used in banking, power grids and telecoms.
V
Before and after
Life before and after GPS and Satellite Navigation
Before
Paper maps and asking directions.
After
Turn-by-turn instructions.
On larger screens, drag the divider (or use the arrow keys) to give more room to the world before or after.
VI
Its legacy
What came after
MHI 092
GPS and Satellite Navigation
Beyond the collection
Smartphone apps
Location-based services.
Beyond the collection
Precision agriculture
Tractors steered by satellite.
VII
Human stories
The people and the moments
Relativity in your pocket
Satellite clocks must be adjusted for relativity, or errors of several kilometres would build up daily.
Where accounts differ, this museum follows the documented record and says so.
