Goodbye GPS…

The era of GPS (global positioning system) is coming to an early retirement soon, despite its recent popularity through the masses with the introduction of the iPhone 3G!� According to the United States, the country responsible for delivering world-wide global positioning, they don’t think GPS will survive past 2010!

So once 2010 rolls along in just a few months will we be driving around in circles not knowing where we are?� It seems that that is actually the case…

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report claiming that, “It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption.”

What they are saying…

GAO, if you weren’t aware, is the independent and nonpartisan agency given the fun task of keeping up to speed with the government’s efficiency.

The report by GAO attacks the failures of the US Air Force who were responsible for sorting out the issues - it was up to the US Air Force to sort out the current GPS IIF satellite program.

However, the Air Force has managed to fall behind with the project costing the country a staggering £550 million and finding themselves 3 years behind schedule.

Furthermore, the Air Force claimed to be able to put into place the new GPS IIIA program 3 years faster than the IIF system.� While some may be thinking that this means it will now never actually happen, the GAO have labelled the possibility of the installation as “optimistic”.

Unless they act fast, there will be nothing that can be done…

The GAO has claimed that if the IIIA program falls behind its scheduled time (which is obviously what is seemingly going to happen) then the world will have to say goodbye to GPS altogether!

“There will be an increased likelihood that in 2010, as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to,” said the GAO report.

But surely not my TomTom…

So what does this mean to you and me?� Say goodbye to GPS on your iPhone and your SatNav - no longer can we drive around in an attempt to trick our TomTom or drive from Aberdeen to Cornwall without looking at a sign post.

More importantly what does it mean for the Armed forces?� Will they be thrown backwards into a Second World War type intelligence seeing marines dropped out of planes 200 miles away from the actual drop zone and missiles wandering through the orbit without knowing its destination?

To avoid possible devastation, the GAO has recommended that the United States secretary of defence “appoint a single authority to oversee the development of GPS, including space, ground control, and user equipment assets, to ensure these assets are synchronized and well executed, and potential disruptions are minimized.”

Could you live without GPS?

Do you see potential devastation in 2010 with the end of GPS?� Do you think you could survive without your SatNav?� Let us know your thoughts…