Report: GPS System Could be in Trouble
Report: GPS System Could be in Trouble
Posted 05/20/2009 at 2:38pm
| by Andy Salisbury
21
Comments
Print
Thanks to a recent report, a new worst-case scenario has been proposed that details the downfall of the modern GPS system, as we know it.
The report, distributed by the Government Accounting Office, states that our nation’s GPS could begin to fail sometime next year. Our GPS system has supposedly been extremely mismanaged, and when the aging equipment used to keep it all running begins to fail there will be no new satellites to take their place.
“If the Air Force does not meet its scheduled goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites, there will be an increased likelihood that… the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to,” says the report.
It also notes that the Air Force has failed to build successful GPS satellites within the cost and schedule constraints provided to it.
Image Credit: AP
More like this
quickone
May 20, 2009 at 8:04pm
It is kind of crap that the US Government funds the development and
implantation of GPS and other governments all over the world use it.
Something like this should not burden one country, especially not one
military branch.Hey Nuxes, an American has not taken fire from the air since the start of the Koren war, there is a reason for that.
Maybe the Army or Marines should take it over, they are getting everything else the AF does through Gates.
Cyberdiver
May 21, 2009 at 8:38am
Brits are working their own version. The europeans luanched the first sat for their version last year or the year before. These other countries want their own becuase we have the means to shut it down and controll access. The reason for all these 2 other systems is becuase they don't want to rely on our system and generousity.
mesiah
May 20, 2009 at 7:34pm
Ahhh, yet another succesful government run program.... And we want these people in charge of our healthcare?
KaylaKaze
May 20, 2009 at 11:37pm
Well, not the republicans, who were the ones who ran this, and all other government programs into the ground, intentionally, to make morons like you think governemnt can't do anything right. If you put people in charge of a government when they are ON RECORD as being against governemnt of any kind, then you shouldn't be surprised when they do their damnedest to destroy it.
mesiah
May 21, 2009 at 8:05pm
It's ignorant people like you that amaze me. It doesnt matter what party is in charge, the government still fails when it comes to things like this. It's just the nature of the beast. If you want to be a fool and blame lack of spending, go right ahead. You can also blame it on corruption, and politicians stuffing their pockets. But the bottom line is, when you dont have to compete with anyone you have no reason to do your best. Therefore no matter how much or little support it gets, its still going to be a half assed run government project. If you need an example, go down to your local DMV or BMV to renew your drivers license and just marvel at the incompetence and lack of caring that goes on there. Or, you can just sit there and blame republicans or democrats and cry about how everyone is stupid but you. /endrant.
ferds7
May 21, 2009 at 2:02pm
I believe the comment was of sarcrasm due to the comment above it trying to place the blame on one single group of people.
r7mr7m
May 21, 2009 at 3:27am
Let's share in the agony of the the Europeans (namely, the UK) and Canada.
Neither the Republicans or the Democrats can or should be using every breath to take away the rights of the individual. Get rid of big government (not all governement) and let people decide for themselves.
Get rid of social programs that support welfare lifers. Don't try to run the banks, auto or any other industries/businesses.
Stop going the wrong way! Less government = Fewer problems.
QUINTIX256
May 20, 2009 at 7:15pm
They are going to start... ... taxing navigation devices.
We are all DOOMED!
You can have your recession. I'm not participating.
comptech08
May 20, 2009 at 6:25pm
i read up on this a week ago and you forgot to mention that the UK is developing a GPS sattilite of its own called Galileo, and it looks like it will be launched in the year 2013. The air force is looking to use it to "fill in the gaps" But if it is set to fail, idk if one will help that much. But i am not an expert about it, so i really dont know.
Nuxes
May 20, 2009 at 5:44pm
F-22 Raptor: $361 million each.
B-2 Stealth Bomber: $1.57 billion each.
Cold War ended: 18 years ago.
r7mr7m
May 21, 2009 at 3:10am
US Budget (not to mention intereset and inflation):1.5 Trillion
oh and btw...
China, North Korea, Russia, etc still don't really play well with others
Cache
May 20, 2009 at 3:41pm
A government agency running far behind schedule while staggeringly over-budget? Stop the presses!
habuza
May 20, 2009 at 3:25pm
Good thing I don't use GPS then I guess, too bad for the directionally challenged saps.
r7mr7m
May 21, 2009 at 3:15am
for every military operation.
by law enforcement and search and rescue teams worldwide.
by scientists.
by commercial and personal vessels.
etc.
kracka
May 21, 2009 at 6:39am
then they get paid too much, reliance on fragile tech just makes you a victim waiting to happen.
Phated1
May 21, 2009 at 10:49am
For one, how does them using GPS to get to emergency calls have anything to do with their salary?
Also, would you rather the person who just busted into your house to rob you have and extra minute or more while the cop checks his map to find your house? Or would you rather the dispatcher just plug the address of the phone call directly into the officer's GPS unit so he/she can immediately roll to your house?
Also, what happens if you have a serious accident on a mountain road and you call 911 from your cell but you dont know what mile marker you are at? They pull your location up using the GPS built into your phone.
ETNPNYS
May 21, 2009 at 7:22am
OH YEAH - cuz flipping through a Thomas Guide will get the cops to an urban gangfight quickly!
<><
Connect with MaximumPC
Featured Content
We introduce Intel's latest class of tablet killers and review 4 of the first Ultra...
Where have all the memorable videogame enemies gone?
This month's issue
Feature
11 Hardware Hacks
Feature
Overclock Your CPU
How-To
Supercharge Your Smartphone
Build It
A Powerful $830 Rig
Most Commented Articles
Latest Max PC Tweets
- maximumpc: Microsoft on Patents: Can't We All Just Get Along? http://t.co/g0vginvG1 hour 43 min ago
- maximumpc: Google Drive Cloud Storage: Is Google Preparing To Muscle In On Dropbox? http://t.co/lCWzeYmS2 hours 8 min ago
- maximumpc: Google Tries to Bribe Web Users with Gift Certificates to Track Surfing Behavior http://t.co/rbf2UdDs3 hours 2 min ago
