How it works

How It Works

• Control stations on the Earth receive signals from satellites in orbit in space. The position of the satellites is then used to provide accurate information to personal GPS tracking devices anywhere on the Earth. GPS devices used by the public for directional purposes may give incorrect data (old street names, closed roads) because there is out-of-date mapping software within the device.
  

Development

• The GPS system was developed by the U.S. military. General access to GPS was made available for civilian use, which has increased recently due to lower costs and more varieties of GPS devices available in the retail sector.