| With GPS devices now in millions of cars, cell phones | | | | The US Navy soon began launching satellites of their |
| and purses around the country, it is hard to imagine | | | | own, and used them in key military actions to help |
| that only a decade ago, the technology was used | | | | troops engage in the proper battle locations and |
| almost exclusively by large corporations and the | | | | assist large ships circumnavigating the globe. |
| military. But time has moved fast for Global | | | | After a time, Navy engineers realized that enough |
| Positioning Systems, which makes sense given that | | | | satellites, placed in very specific positions with an |
| the story of GPS’ history begins with a measure | | | | orbit around the earth, would create a clear picture |
| of time. | | | | of our planet – and that this “picture” |
| It all starts with TIME | | | | could be used map out individual points around the |
| GPS technology exists today because scientists | | | | globe with stunning accuracy. |
| sought a way to measure time more accurately than | | | | Completion of the System |
| it had ever been measured before. And so, they | | | | In 1993, it all came together. The United States Navy |
| developed the Atomic Clock, a super-accurate device | | | | launched the 24th of 24 carefully placed satellites into |
| that measure the time within a billionth of a second. | | | | orbit – and the Global Positioning System was |
| But the Atomic Clock was not created in order to | | | | born. The satellites are positioned in such a way that |
| keep scientists from being late for dinner. They used | | | | now anyone with an inexpensive GPS device can |
| the accuracy of the clock to test Einstein’s | | | | locate their position (or another location) anywhere |
| theory of relativity as it pertained to time and space. | | | | on the planet. And to think, it all began with Einstein |
| Using Atomic Clocks to measure time and space | | | | and a group of scientists who wanted to find the |
| With these atomic clocks, scientists and engineers | | | | ultimate measure of time. |
| discovered that there were slight discrepancies in | | | | Today GPS devices are a useful tool for many |
| time around the globe. They began to position the | | | | Americans. The technology has become very |
| clocks everywhere from Mount Everest to the Gobi | | | | affordable and helps individuals obtain proper |
| Desert and then looked for tiny differences in the | | | | directions to their location while using a minimal |
| time in each of the locations. This information helped | | | | amount of gas or time. And if someone had told you |
| confirm Einstein’s view of the universe and | | | | twenty years ago that GPS technology would be a |
| would soon become a key part of satellite | | | | “hot Christmas gift”, chances are you |
| technology. | | | | wouldn’t have given them the time of day. |
| Sputnik and the creation of a military GPS system | | | | For reviews, prices and product information about |
| When the Russians launched Sputnik in the | | | | the latest GPS devices for the car, cell phone and |
| 1950’s, scientists quickly learned that the satellite | | | | more, visit At you’ll find unbiased reviews, side |
| could be used to track locations on the ground by | | | | by side product comparisons and everything else you |
| beaming a signal up to the satellite – and having a | | | | need to make an informed purchase – and get |
| response returned to Earth. How that message | | | | the most out of your GPS device. |
| traveled determined the location of the satellite | | | | . |
| relative to a point on the planet. | | | | |