For Release: Feb. 6, 1997
Catherine E. Watson
(757) 864-6122
Release No. 97-011
The Origins, Evolution and Future of Global Satellite
Navigation
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has been called the most
significant spin-off of the Cold War. GPS, a system of 24
satellites in orbit around the Earth, enables very accurate
navigation world-wide. Dr. Bradford Parkinson, the original
Department of Defense GPS program director, will discuss the
system’s history, applications and future on Tuesday, Feb.
11, at 2 p.m. at the NASA Langley H.J.E. Reid
Conference Center.
Because GPS is fairly new (it was declared fully operational
April 27, 1995), applications are still being conceived. Future
applications may include automatic landing systems on airplanes and
robotic farm tractors.
While some GPS implementations can offer phenomenal accuracy
(within a few centimeters for landing aircraft), according to
Parkinson, the system still requires improvements. Parkinson will
discuss these improvements and what is needed to make GPS a global
standard for navigation.
Parkinson also will present examples of satellite navigation
research that addresses how GPS availability is expected to change
the future of ground, marine and aerospace navigation
worldwide.
Parkinson manages the NASA/Stanford Relativity Mission, Gravity
Probe B, and directs Stanford University’s research on
innovative uses of GPS. He has degrees from the US Naval Academy,
MIT and Stanford. He has received many distinguished awards and
authored more than 80 technical papers on guidance, navigation and
control.
A media briefing with Parkinson will take place at 1
p.m. in the Reid Center. Parkinson will repeat the GPS
lecture at 7:30 p.m. at the Virginia Air & Space Center,
Hampton.
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