Feral Jundi

   Thanks to several readers for sending me this one, and this is certainly an important story.  For one, I certainly hope the Obama administration will review it’s policies on GPS, and infuse the necessary funding to make this thing solid and secure.  We should not be reading stories about GPS possibly breaking down by 2010 or whatever, and this bogles my mind on how this is even a concern.  Bottom line, GPS is a vital and life saving technology, and should be treated as such. –Matt

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Global Positioning System: Significant Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities

GAO-09-325 April 30, 2009

Summary

The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides positioning, navigation, and timing data to users worldwide, has become essential to U.S. national security and a key tool in an expanding array of public service and commercial applications at home and abroad. The United States provides GPS data free of charge. The Air Force, which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of modernizing GPS. In light of the importance of GPS, the modernization effort, and international efforts to develop new systems, GAO was asked to undertake a broad review of GPS. Specifically, GAO assessed progress in (1) acquiring GPS satellites, (2) acquiring the ground control and user equipment necessary to leverage GPS satellite capabilities, and evaluated (3) coordination among federal agencies and other organizations to ensure GPS missions can be accomplished. To carry out this assessment, GAO’s efforts included reviewing and analyzing program documentation, conducting its own analysis of Air Force satellite data, and interviewing key military and civilian officials.

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