History Of GPS

LORAN was used in World War II

Jan 1, 1940

LO(ng) RA(nge) N(avigation) ground based radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver

Sputnik is launched into space

Oct 4, 1957

The launching of Sputnik created motivation for the United States to create a GPS satelitte

First navigation satellite TRANSIT IB launched

Apr 13, 1960

Used by the U.S. Navy to acurately locate ballistic missle submarines and ships. Inspiration for a GPS satellite came from the Cold War and the launching of Sputnik into space in 1957 by the Russian

First experimental Block-I GPS satellite launched

Feb 22, 1978

GPS becomes available to civilians

Sep 1, 1983

A Korean civilian airliner was shot down by Soviet fighters after accidently flying into restricted Soviet air space. To avoid more similar situations, President Ronald Reagan declassifies NAVSTAR (GPS).

First modern Block-II satellite launched

Feb 14, 1989

Gulf War: First conflict where GPS was widely used

Dec 16, 1990

Al Gore creates 2 new civilian signals

Jan 1, 1998

This creates better accuracy and reliability. Keeps civilian use and military use separate. Authorized in 2000, became known as GPS III

Successful tests of assisted GPS for mobile phones

Nov 15, 2004

QUALCOMM announced successful tests of assisted GPS for mobile phones

First Modernized GPS Satelitte launched (IIR-M)

Jan 1, 2005

Transmits second civilian signal (L2C) for enhanced performance

U.S. Air Force begins to develop Next Generation Operational Control System

Feb 25, 2010

This would improve accuracy and availability of GPS navigation signals, and serve as a critical part of GPS modernization.

First IIF GPS launched into orbit

May 3, 2010

Expected to Launch Next-Generation Block IIIA Satellites and System

Dec 1, 2013