Quote Originally Posted by Devils Horse View Post
I saw a blurb somewhere about the GPS satellites. It said many of them are 20-30 years old, becoming more unreliable, and they'd be failing soon. Also said the government was doing nothing to replace them.

Hard to understand your mindset Hidef, but hang loose, some serious usage fees are coming your way in the form of taxes.
This is from someone who is an "expert" in the field of GPS......

The GPS constellation needs a minimum of 24 satellites to give full earth coverage. There are 32 currently on orbit. The GPSIIIA satellite has very little of advantage of civilian users, and extremely little (maybe no) advantage for hand-held users (it's been a few years since I looked at the specs). Yes, the IIIA satellites are delayed, but an expanded constellation of version II satellites are up, healthy, and fully operational.

Lots of commotion but not much substance. Makes a good scare story though. For the real scoop see http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gpscurr.html and http://www.navcen.uscg.gov./

Her credentials:

I work as a program manager for an aerospace company that just happens to make more military GPS units than anyone else in the world. I was lucky enough to manage a military GPS program for 4years and picked up some knowledge. I now am a program manager on a military satellite communications program. Note that my engineers would definitely take exception to the belief that I know lots of the technology LOL!!! The engineers are the real Rocket Scientists!

Being trained as a scientist and then working as an engineer and managing engineering work, I get really frustrated with the popular press that paint scientific doom and gloom just to make a story.

BTW: I tried to post this last night from my blackberry, but I guess it disappeared into the ether.


Later,

Geo