| GENERAL
INFORMATION ON GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed as a dual-use
system with the primary purpose of enhancing the effectiveness
of U.S. and allied military forces. GPS is rapidly becoming
an integral component of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure,
with applications ranging from mapping and surveying to international
air traffic management and global change research. The growing
demand from military, civil, commercial, and scientific users
has generated a U.S. commercial GPS equipment and service
industry that leads the world. Augmentations to enhance basic
GPS services could further expand these civil and commercial
markets.
GPS is managed by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation,
and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee, supported by the PNT
Executive Secretariat (http://www.pnt.gov). The PNT manages
GPS and U.S. Government augmentations to GPS, consistent with
national policy, to support and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness
and productivity while protecting national security and foreign
policy interests.
The basic GPS is defined as the constellation of satellites,
the navigation payloads which produce the GPS signals, ground
stations, data links, and associated command and control facilities
which are operated and maintained by the Department of Defense;
the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) as the civil and commercial
service provided by the basic GPS; and augmentations as those
systems based on the GPS that provide real-time accuracy greater
than the SPS. GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to
determine their three dimensional position, velocity, and
time, 24 hours a day in all weather, anywhere in the world.
From our site, you may view or download current and archived
GPS satellite information such as status messages, precise
ephemeris data, and almanacs.
Specific, operational GPS information may be obtained from
the links below or from the links on blue navigation bar at
the left.
GPS Status Messages
Report GPS Problems
Please report GPS problems or anomolies via our GPS
report-a-problem page. Thank you in advance.
U.S. Policy Statement Regarding GPS Availability, March
21, 2003
- The United States Government recognizes that GPS plays
a key role around the world as part of the global information
infrastructure and takes seriously the responsibility to
provide the best possible service to civil and commercial
users worldwide. This is as true in times of conflict as
it is in times of peace.
- The U.S. Government also maintains the capability to prevent
hostile use of GPS and its augmentations while retaining
a military advantage in a theater of operations without
disrupting or degrading civilian uses outside the theater
of operations.
- We believe we can ensure that GPS continues to be available
as an invaluable global utility at all times, while at the
same time, protecting U.S. and coalition security requirements.
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