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    What Is GPS?

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    runneals
    The document provides background information on GPS (Global Positioning System). It discusses how navigation was done before GPS using landmarks, stars and tools like sextants. The development of GPS is then outlined, from early systems like TRANSIT used by the Navy in the 1960s, to the combining of systems and launching of the first GPS satellite in 1978. The three segments of GPS are identified as the space, control and user segments. Satellites are described as weighing around 2,000 lbs, traveling at 7,000 mph, and lasting around 10 years in orbit 12,500 miles above the Earth.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    What Is GPS?

    Uploaded by

    runneals
    35 views2 pages
    The document provides background information on GPS (Global Positioning System). It discusses how navigation was done before GPS using landmarks, stars and tools like sextants. The development of GPS is then outlined, from early systems like TRANSIT used by the Navy in the 1960s, to the combining of systems and launching of the first GPS satellite in 1978. The three segments of GPS are identified as the space, control and user segments. Satellites are described as weighing around 2,000 lbs, traveling at 7,000 mph, and lasting around 10 years in orbit 12,500 miles above the Earth.

    Original Title

    What is GPS? 

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    The document provides background information on GPS (Global Positioning System). It discusses how navigation was done before GPS using landmarks, stars and tools like sextants. The development of GPS is then outlined, from early systems like TRANSIT used by the Navy in the 1960s, to the combining of systems and launching of the first GPS satellite in 1978. The three segments of GPS are identified as the space, control and user segments. Satellites are described as weighing around 2,000 lbs, traveling at 7,000 mph, and lasting around 10 years in orbit 12,500 miles above the Earth.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views2 pages

    What Is GPS?

    Uploaded by

    runneals
    The document provides background information on GPS (Global Positioning System). It discusses how navigation was done before GPS using landmarks, stars and tools like sextants. The development of GPS is then outlined, from early systems like TRANSIT used by the Navy in the 1960s, to the combining of systems and launching of the first GPS satellite in 1978. The three segments of GPS are identified as the space, control and user segments. Satellites are described as weighing around 2,000 lbs, traveling at 7,000 mph, and lasting around 10 years in orbit 12,500 miles above the Earth.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    What is GPS?

     
    Objective: 
    Students will learn the history of navigation as well as the basics of the GPS system. 

    Background: 
    GPS stands for Global Positioning System.  It is a network of 24 satellites with some 
    spares placed into orbit by the Department of Defense (DOD).  It works anywhere in the 
    world, 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, and on land, air or sea.  It is based on the 
    coordinate system and the best part is that it is FREE to use! 
    How did we navigate before GPS? Early sailors and travelers used the sun, stars 
    and landmarks to navigate.  They used sextants to make precise observation of the sun, 
    stars, and planets to chart their course.  In the 18 th  century clockmaker John Harrison 
    invented the chronometer.  It allowed navigators to know what time it was in two places at 
    once, which helped to determine longitude.  In the 1930s radio beacons were used to 
    navigate.  Their accuracy level was several miles.  The space race in the 1950s and 1960s 
    was the beginning of the GPS navigation system.  In 1957 the Russians launched Sputnik, 
    which became the world’s first artificial satellite.  The radio waves emitting from Sputnik 
    allowed researchers to determine Sputnik’s location.  This caused them to think they could 
    determine a location on earth from a satellite in space. 
    The Navy therefore developed TRANSIT in the 1960s to track their fleet of nuclear 
    submarines.  This system consisted of three satellites. The problem with TRANSIT was it 
    had low accuracy and was not available 24 hours a day.  During this time the Air Force 
    also created their own system to accurately locate vehicles on land or in the air. 
    In 1973, the Navy and Air Force systems combined and formed NAVSTAR. 
    NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging (NAVSTAR) is the official DOD name for GPS. 
    The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.  Other satellites have been slowly added 
    since then to complete the constellation.  The NAVSTAR system reached full operational 
    capability on April 27, 1995.  However, it was first used in combat during Operation Desert 
    Storm in 1991 which also increased public awareness of the system. 
    The GPS system consists of three segments – Space, Control and User.  The 
    Space segment consists of the satellite constellation in space.  The Control segment 
    consists of the master control station located at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado as 
    well as four stations that monitor the satellites and three ground antennas.  The User 
    segment consists of the receivers and antennas on Earth that receive the GPS signal. 
    GPS satellites weigh approximately 2,000 lbs (1 Ton), travel 7,000 mph, last 
    approximately ten years, and are 17 feet across when the solar panels are extended. 
    They are powered by solar energy but do have backup batteries for emergencies. 
    Satellites are orbiting 12,500 miles above the Earth.  Each satellite circles the Earth twice 
    daily.  The number of satellites in orbit changes, the following website gives information 
    concerning the status of each satellite: http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gpscurr.html. 

    For more information: 
    http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gps.html  www.4­H.org 
    www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/default.htm  www.trimble.com 
    http://gpshome.ssc.nasa.gov  www.garmin.com
    What is GPS? 
    Activity 
    RECAP: 
    Ask students the following questions concerning the information provided.

    · What difficulties do you think navigators had in using the sun, stars and landmarks 
    to navigate their vessels?
    · List three characteristics of a satellite.
    · What are the three segments of the GPS system and what do they do?
    · Tell about the most interesting thing you learned today about GPS and why. 

    ACTIVITY:
    · Have the students use a compass to navigate around a park or obstacle course you 
    set up.
    · At night, have the students attempt to locate the North Star and discuss how 
    easy/hard it would be to navigate with.  (Can also discuss the Underground Railroad 
    and how slaves used the Drinking Gourd song and North Star to navigate to 
    freedom)
    · The students can do research or write short reports about prior ways people 
    navigated (compass, North Star, sextants, chronometer, etc.)  The reports could 
    include the history, positive and negative aspects, who used this method and why, 
    and anything interesting about it.  These reports can then be shared with the group.
    · Lead a discussion on other ways people can navigate, whether crazy and 
    impossible to realistic.
    · Discuss how the students think animals “navigate.” (Sight, smell, hearing, touch, 
    etc.) Students can do research on specific animals if they wanted to.

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