Jesse624
Baton Rouge, LA
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I've heard some heresay that the GPS system satellites only have a limited operating life, and that the satellites could start shutting down in a not so distant future, say in the neighborhood of 10 years. Does anyone on this forum have any good reliable data of when the GPS system will start to shut down, and is there any gov't or private industry planning to replace the satellites before the old ones stop working?
Thanks for your input.
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pete42
Ohio
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With the advent of private companies getting into the rocket business.
NASA has hired some private co's to launch satellites so They will be replacing
any that need to be replaced and adding more if more are needed.
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Bobbo
Memphis, TN
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The GPS satellites are a national security concern since the military relies on them so heavily. The gubment  won't let the system die.
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Wadcutter
IL
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Old rumors. Some fear-mongerers were yapping about it several months ago. The media ran a sensationalized story that satellites were falling to earth and GPS systems were going to be useless. The USAF countered that nothing of the sort is happening and the GPS net will continue to operate just fine. What it amounted to was one of the sats dropped out of service but was already replaced. A reporter tried to make it sound like the entire net was falling. Chicken Little kind of stuff.
Think about. If GPS system shuts down are you going to get on an airplane or take a cruise? How do you think government surveying and a ton of other operations would continue? The sats were put in place as a military function. Too much military is dependant upon them.
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Bluestatueman
Michigan
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Earlier this year,www.NOAA.gov had a notification regarding solar storms. The government advised that the solar storms on the sun can or will (I can't remember) cause a major disruption in satellite and cell phone usage.
I'm sure if you search the website, you will find it.
They also have lots of info regarding satellites and their usage.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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GPS is primarily a military system and as long as our military uses it you can be pretty well assured it will be maintained. Last report I heard they NEED 28 satellites in the grid and generally keep about 36 operating at all times.
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We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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2oldman
Indio CA
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The Global Positioning System system will not fall from the sky. Don't even concern yourself.
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Briteskys
Mesa, AZ
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Wadcutter is correct.
Many GPS instrument approaches are replacing outdated aircraft landing systems.
Next time you are riding in an airliner and landing in inclement weather you might thank GPS for taking you down through the clouds to a pinpoint spot on the runway.
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christopherglenn
a little over an hour from Yosemite
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there are more then enough gps satellites in orbit, some are designated spares, so if one fails, they bring a spare online, and update the gps constellation.
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Love Boat II
Some where in the USA
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Jesse624 wrote:I've heard some heresay that the GPS system satellites only have a limited operating life, and that the satellites could start shutting down in a not so distant future, say in the neighborhood of 10 years. Does anyone on this forum have any good reliable data of when the GPS system will start to shut down, and is there any gov't or private industry planning to replace the satellites before the old ones stop working?
Thanks for your input.
Hay don't sweat it H--- 20 years ago we didn't even have GPS...
I was flying International Airliners than and we never got lost.
and use to land in the fog when we could only see 1000 feet in front of us.
Now landing at a speed of 140mph at touch down in a heavy 4 engine jet , 1000 feet is not very much.
Never killed nary a sole........
Capt. T. Love (Ret.)
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