5 things you might not know about GPS

Here are five things you might not have known about GPS, shared on GPSreview.net

1. The official name for GPS when it was developed by the Department of Defense was NAVSTAR.

2. The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.

3. While it takes 24 satellites to make the satellite constellation, there are more than 24 GPS satellites in orbit doing their job. Some are taken in and out of rotation for software maintenance and new satellites are being launched with new capabilities.

4. The GPS satellites orbit at 12,000 miles above earth traveling at 7,000 miles per hour.

5. Each satellite is only about 17 feet across and circles the earth twice per day.

Check out the full article here

 

0 Responses to 5 things you might not know about GPS

  1. peacefulbirder January 18, 2007 at 3:35 pm #

    Great information, thank you for sharing this!

  2. Lord Elwood January 19, 2007 at 11:11 am #

    It’s funny because it was this information that lead me to Geocaching in the first place!!

  3. RapidEye January 19, 2007 at 12:33 pm #

    NAVSTAR spelled backwards is Rats Van…
    I think the rodents are using our technology against us and they changed the name so we wouldn’t catch on! =-)

    Anyone else want a tinfoil hat?!?

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