GPS Satellite System Close To Meltdown

Published by djmick on May 20th, 2009

The U.S. government has warned that the worldwide network of satellites that make up the Global Positioning System (GPS) could fail by 2010 – affecting millions of people around the globe.

Mismanagement and a lack of investment means the 20-year-old system could lead consumers into nothing but trouble.

The first replacement satellite was supposed to be launched into space in 2007 – but won’t be ready until November of this year, nearly three years too late.

And it is unclear whether the satellites currently in orbit will be able to keep the system running smoothly in time for their replacements to arrive.

So it looks like it could be back to good old days of map reading when your SatNav no longer functions.

The network of GPS satellites constantly orbit the planet and beam signals back to the ground that help pinpoint your position on the Earth’s surface.

They are overseen by the U.S. Air Force – which was slammed by the GAO in its report to Congress today for failing to keep the system up to date.

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