History of the Global Positioning System - GPS
(thanks to Gerald P. Decker for providing me all these data)
 

GPS or the Global Positioning System was invented by the U.S. Department of Defense (D.O.D) and Ivan Getting, at the cost of twelve billion taxpayer dollars. The Global Positioning System is a satellite navigational system, predominantly designed for navigation.
GPS is now gaining prominence as a timing tool.

Eighteen satellites, six in each of three orbital planes spaced 120º apart, and their ground stations, formed the original GPS. GPS uses these "man-made stars" or satellites as reference points to calculate geographical positions, accurate to a matter of meters. In fact, with advanced forms of GPS, you can make measurements to better than a centimeter.

Uses For GPS - Global Positioning System GPS receivers have been miniaturized to just a few integrated circuits, becoming very economical. Today, GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery and even laptop computers.

Dr. Ivan Getting - GPS - Global Positioning System Dr. Ivan Getting was born in 1912 in New York City. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an Edison Scholar, receiving his Bachelor of Science in 1933. Following his undergraduate study at MIT, Dr. Getting was a Graduate Rhodes scholar at Oxford University.
He was awarded a Ph.D. in Astrophysics in 1935.

In 1951, Ivan Getting became the vice president for engineering and research at the Raytheon Corporation. The first three-dimensional, time-difference-of-arrival position-finding system was suggested by Raytheon Corporation in response to an Air Force requirement for a guidance system to be used with a proposed ICBM that would achieve mobility by traveling on a railroad system.

When Ivan Getting left Raytheon in 1960, this proposed technique was among the most advanced forms of navigational technology in the world, and its concepts were crucial stepping stones in the development of the Global Positioning System or GPS.

Under Dr. Getting’s direction Aerospace engineers and scientists studied the use of satellites as the basis for a navigation system for vehicles moving rapidly in three dimensions, ultimately developing the concept essential to GPS.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 medium Earth orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time.

Developed by the United States Department of Defense, it is officially named NAVSTAR GPS (Contrary to popular belief, NAVSTAR is not an acronym, but simply a name given by Mr. John Walsh, a key decision maker when it came to the budget for the GPS program[1]).
The satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$750 million per year,[2] including the replacement of aging satellites, and research and development.

Following the shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a directive making the system available for free for civilian use as a common good.[3] Since then, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks.

 

GPS System timeline.

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1972
The US Air Force Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility (Holloman AFB) conducted developmental flight tests of two prototype GPS receivers over White Sands Missile Range, using ground-based pseudo-satellites.

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1973
April - U.S. Navy TIMATION system and Air Force System 621B 3-d navigation system combined in a joint effort to develop a Defense Navigation Satellite System (DNSS). System would later become NAVSTAR.
August - First attempt to get new DNSS system (still packaged as Air Force's 621B system) past the Defense System Acquisition and Review Council (DSARC) fails due to failure to account for views and needs of all services.
December 17 - Redesigned DNSS system passes DSARC. System includes the best elements of all existing radionavigation technologies.
Ultimately, it will be renamed NAVSTAR.

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1974
June - Rockwell International selected as first satellite contractor.
July 14 - TIMATION II satellite launched. Renamed NTS-1 (Navigation Technology Satellite 1). Launched into a 7500 nm orbit, it carries the first atomic clocks (two rubidium oscillators) into space.
August 17 - Deputy Secretary of Defense declares that tri-service program based on GPS concept be established, marking the start of the conception-validation phase of the program. Air Force will be program manager.

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1975
JPO (Joint Programs Office) created to oversee development programs for GPS space, receiver and control segments.
GPS receiver development competition contracts awarded to three
contractors: Rockwell Collins of Iowa, Magnavox Research Labs of Torrance, CA and Texas Instruments of Dallas, TX.

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1976
GPS test platforms identified:
Fixed Wing Aircraft: F4, F16, C131, B52
Helicoptors: UH-60
Ground based units: Manpack for ground forces; M1 Tank; APC; Tactical
4X4 utility vehicle.
Sea based units: USS Kennedy – Aircraft Carrier; USS Radford – Guided Missile Destroyer; Un-named tactical nuclear Submarine.
Landsat Earth study satellites

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1978
February 22 After an initial launch failure, the first the GPS Block I satellites is launched. Block I comprised 10 developmental satellites launched from 1978 through 1989.
February 22 - NAVSTAR 1 (I-1, PRN 4) launched, declared operational March 29.
May 13 - NAVSTAR 2 (I-2, PRN 7) launched, declared operational July 14.
October 6 - NAVSTAR 3 (I-3, PRN 6) launched, declared operational November 9.
December 11 - NAVSTAR 4 (I-4, PRN 8) launched, declared operational January 8.

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1980
February 9 - NAVSTAR 5 (I-5, PRN 5) launched, declared operational February 27.
April 26 - NAVSTAR 6 (I-6, PRN 9) launched, declared operational May 16.

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1981
December 18 - NAVSTAR 7 (I-7) lost due to launch failure.

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1983
May 20 The Air Force signs a $1.2 billion contract for the production of 28 GPS Block II satellites with Rockwell Space Systems.
June 28 - U.S. DoD news release announces NAVSTAR security policy changes and revised Standard Positioning Service (SPS) accuracy levels. From then on, SPS would then have 100 meters 95% maximum horizontal error. Precise Positioning Service (PPS) to be limited to military users only. The change was prompted by the results of a 1982 interagency study panel consisting of members of the following
organizations:
• Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
• Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
• Defense Mapping Agency (DMA)
• Branches of the Armed Forces
• Asst. intelligence services.
The study panel found that the PPS could be used by adversaries of the U.S. against U.S. military forces. The panel also recommended that SPS be made publicly available at the 100 meter level, with the option to degrade if necessary.
July 14 - NAVSTAR 8 (I-8, PRN 11) launched, declared operational August 10.
September 1 A Korean civilian airliner is shot down by Russian fighters after accidentally intruding into Soviet air space. To prevent any such tragedy from happening again, President Ronald Reagan declassifies NAVSTAR; GPS becomes available to civilians.

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1984
June 13 - NAVSTAR 9 (I-9, PRN 13) launched, declared operational July 19.
September 8 - NAVSTAR 10 (I-10, PRN 12) launched, declared operational October 3.
October 9 - NAVSTAR 11 (I-11, PRN 3) launched, declared operational October 30. Last of the Block I satellites, average life has been about 7 years.

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1985
October 9 The last of the Block 1 satellites is launched.

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1989
February - U.S. Coast Guard assumes responsibility as lead agency within Department of Transportation for acting as civilian point of contact for NAVSTAR information.
February 14 - The first of the GPS Block II production satellites is launched. From 1989 to 1997, 28 production satellites are launched; the last 19 satellites in the series are updated versions, called Block IIA.
NAVSTAR 14 (II-1, PRN 14) launched, declared operational April 14.
June 10 - NAVSTAR 13 (II-2, PRN 2) launched, declared operational June 10.
June 21 - Contract for Navstar Block IIR satellites awarded to GE (General Electric) Astrospace.
August 17 - NAVSTAR 16 (II-3, PRN 16) launched, declared operational August 17.
October 21 - NAVSTAR 19 (II-4, PRN 19) launched, declared operational October 21.
December 11 - NAVSTAR 17 (II-5, PRN 17) launched, declared operational January 11.

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1990
January 24 - NAVSTAR 18 (II-6, PRN 18) launched, declared operational February 14.
March - U.S. DoD activates Selective Availability.
March 25 - NAVSTAR 20 (II-7, PRN 20) launched, declared operational April 19.
August 2 - NAVSTAR 21 (II-8, PRN 21) launched, declared operational August 31.
October 10 - NAVSTAR 15 (II-9, PRN 15) launched, declared operational October 20.
November 26 - NAVSTAR 23 (IIA-10, PRN 23) launched, declared operational December 10.
December NAVSTAR GPS becomes operational.

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1991
July 3 - NAVSTAR 24 (IIA-11, PRN 24) launched, declared operational August 30.
July 4 - SA activated at 0400 UT (ref: Notice advisory to NAVSTAR users 121-92282 DTG 011354Z Jul 91.
The Persian Gulf War enables American military forces to validate the usefulness of GPS in combat situations. Although not fully operational, GPS allows the military to obtain accurate coordinates in the featureless Iraqi desert and to achieve a quick victory.

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1992
The Aerospace Corporation, as part of the GPS team, receives the Collier Trophy, the nation's most prestigious aeronautical award for the work it has done developing GPS.

February 23 - NAVSTAR 25 (IIA-12, PRN 25) launched, declared operational March 24.
April 10 - NAVSTAR 28 (IIA-13, PRN 28) launched, declared operational April 25.
May 10 - Two men break into Rockwell International facility with an axe, attempt to destroy NAVSTAR SV 33. Men are apparently protesting use of GPS on Trident submarines.
July 7 - NAVSTAR 26 (IIA-14, PRN 26) launched, declared operational July 23.
August 10 - TOPEX/Poseidon ocean observation satellite is launched.
Satellite carries GPS to provide a reference between the satellite and the center of the earth.
September 9 - NAVSTAR 27 (IIA-15, PRN 27) launched, declared operational September 30.
November 22 - NAVSTAR 32 (IIA-16, PRN 1) launched, declared operational December 11.
December 18 - NAVSTAR 29 (IIA-17, PRN 29) launched, declared operational January 5.

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1993
February 3 - NAVSTAR 22 (IIA-18, PRN 22) launched, declared operational April 4.
March 30 - NAVSTAR 31 (IIA-19, PRN 31) launched, declared operational April 13.
May 13 - NAVSTAR 37 (IIA-20, PRN 7) launched, declared operational June 12.
May 27 - DoD and DoT issue a press release announcing a joint study group chartered to investigate management issues of NAVSTAR system.
June 26 - NAVSTAR 39 (IIA-21, PRN 9) launched, declared operational July 20.
July 9 - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approves use of GPS by civil operators.
August 30 - NAVSTAR 35 (IIA-22, PRN 5) launched, declared operational September 28.
October 26 - NAVSTAR 34 (IIA-23, PRN 4) launched, declared operational November 29.
December 8 - Secretary of Defense Les Aspin sends a letter to Secretary of Transportation Les Pena that Navstar system has achieved Initial Operational Capacity (IOC).
December 21 - Joint DoD/DoT task force releases issues a press release stating that NAVSTAR system should be jointly managed.
Statement is based on increasing civilian use of the system.

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1994
January 17 The last of the Block IIA satellites is launched, completing the GPS constellation.
February 17 – The Federal Aviation Administration announces that GPS is operational an integrated as a part of the U.S. air traffic control system.
August 30 - NAVSTAR 36 (IIA-24, PRN 6) launched.
July 1 -U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is commissioned. Event is announced in a press release issued on June 23.
July 17 - U.S. Air Force issues a press release announcing that NAVSTAR system officially reaches full operational capability.
August 3 - The FAA issued a press release announcing the award of a
$475 million dollar contract to Wilcox Electric for the development and installation of a Wide Area Augmentation System.

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1995
June 11 - European Space Agency issues a press release announcing plans to provide independent GPS augmentation under european control for civil use.

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1996
March 28 - Navstar 33 (PRN 3), the one attacked by activists with an axe on May 10, 1992 is finally launched.
March 29 - The National Security Council's Office of Science and Technology Policy issues a press release detailing a comprehensive national policy on continued use and management of the Navstar system.
December 31 - Transit satellite system ceases operation at 2359 GMT as called for in the 1994 Federal Radionavigation Plan.

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1997
January 17 - A Delta rocket carring the NAVSTAR satellite GPS IIR-1 explodes seven seconds after liftoff.
February 27 - The U.S. Department of Transporation and the Department of Defense issue a press release stating that civil users will have uninterrupted access to the carrier phase portion of the L2 (military
only) signal. The press release also states that the capability to deploy a second civilian frequency will included in the upcoming Block IIF NAVSTAR satellites.
May 2 - Air Force Space Command issues the results of an investigation of the January 17 explosion carrying a NAVSTAR satellite. The failure was annouced to have occurred due to the catastrophic failure of one of the nine strap-on solid rocket boosters attached to the first stage of the rocket. It was not known what caused the booster to fail. The engine failure prompted the automatic destruct system to destroy the first stage and remaining strap-on engines. The second and third rocket stages were destroyed by the range safety officer when it was determined that the rest of the rocket was off course.

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1998
March 30 - U.S. Department of Transportation press release stating that Vice President Gore announced today that the Navstar system will provide two additional navigation signals intended for civil use.
These signals enhance accuracy and availability of the system for civil users. The second frequency is planned to be in operation by the year 2005. The DoD issues a similar press release

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2001-2003
Military battles in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks and during Operation Iraqi Freedom demonstrate the precision of GPS in military conflict.

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2003
October 11 Dr. Ivan Getting dies at the age of 91 at his home in Coronado, California.

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2004
March Drs. Ivan Getting and Brad Parkinson are awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize by the National Academy of Engineering.
March 18 GPS satellite 2R-11 is dedicated to the late Dr. Ivan A.
Getting, who envisioned these “lighthouses in the sky serving all mankind.”A plaque inscribed with his words is attached to the satellite.
May
Drs. Ivan Getting and Brad Parkinson are inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
November QUALCOMM announced successful tests of Assisted-GPS system for mobile phones

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2005
The first of GPS Block IIF satellites are scheduled to launch.
The first modernized GPS satellite was launched and began transmitting a second civilian signal (L2C) for enhanced user performance.

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2007
The most recent launch was on 17 October 2007. The oldest GPS satellite still in operation was launched on July 4, 1991, and became operational on August 30, 1991.
On September 14, 2007, the aging mainframe-based Ground Segment Control System was transitioned to the new Architecture Evolution Plan

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