GPS By Ian School7 Dec 1, 1973 The GPS is invented Phase 1 of operation GPS NAVSTAR starts Sep 4, 1978 NAVSTAR satellites 1, 2, 3, and 4 are launched Sep 4, 1980 NAVSTAR satellites 5 and 6 are launched Sep 4, 1981 NAVSTAR satellite 7 is lost due to launch failure Sep 4, 1983 NAVSTAR satellite 8 is launched and contains Nuclear Detonation Detection System Sep 4, 1984 NAVSTAR satellites 9 and 10 are launched Sep 4, 1985 NAVSTAR 11 is launched Sep 4, 1989 NAVSTAR 13, 14, 16, 17, and 19 are launched Sep 4, 1990 NAVSTAR 15, 18, 20, 21, and 23 are launched Sep 4, 1991 NAVSTAR 24 is launched Sep 4, 1992 NAVSTAR 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 32 are launched Sep 4, 1993 NAVSTAR 22, 31, 34, 35, 37 and 39 are launched Sep 4, 1996 NAVSTAR 33 is launched Sep 4, 2012 Modern GPS