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GAO Fires Warning On GPS (GPS system may fail after 2010)
AvWeb ^ | 5/18/09

Posted on 05/18/2009 5:59:59 AM PDT by pabianice

"It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption," warns the GAO. "If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected." The report, issued April 30, notes the Air Force's struggle to successfully build satellites on time and on budget. According to the GAO, the Air Force is running $870 million over its original cost estimate and has delayed the launch of its next satellite (now scheduled for November 2009) by almost three years. As old satellites begin to fail, it is increasingly important that the Air Force does not fall behind its current schedule. Otherwise, warns the GAO, there is increased likelihood that by 2010, "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." That shortfall "could have wide-ranging impacts on all GPS users." While many of the potential problems rely on the Air Force's success working with a new contractor, the GAO has made recommendations...

(Excerpt) Read more at avweb.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gps
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With Obama shutting down LORAN in 2010 there may be left no modern nav system for aircraft and ships.
1 posted on 05/18/2009 5:59:59 AM PDT by pabianice
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To: pabianice

I wonder how this will affect the ACORN “tagging activities”


2 posted on 05/18/2009 6:03:16 AM PDT by Cyclone59 (I just can’t WAIT until the ‘60s generation is out of power and drooling in nursing homes.)
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To: pabianice

Good thing I know how to read a map. Call me old school.


3 posted on 05/18/2009 6:05:00 AM PDT by neodad (USS Vincennes (CG 49) "Freedom's Fortress")
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To: pabianice

I understand that the EU is pushing their GPS-like navigation solution. I’m sure they’ll be happy to have the world use their sol’n instead.


4 posted on 05/18/2009 6:06:24 AM PDT by Yak
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To: pabianice

I had been debating upgrading the electronics on my boat, but this might be a good time to buy a cheap sextant on ebay & brush up on celestial nav.


5 posted on 05/18/2009 6:07:09 AM PDT by orlop9
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To: neodad
Map, compass and mental dead reckoning.

Add in a flashearth, google map, terraserver, maps live aerial photo review prior to leaving and GPS is interesting only as a plaything to log travels or certain points found.

6 posted on 05/18/2009 6:08:30 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: pabianice

Another words everyone will have to “upgrade” their GPS devices.


7 posted on 05/18/2009 6:08:54 AM PDT by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
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To: pabianice
GLONASS
8 posted on 05/18/2009 6:09:59 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, democrats believe every day is April 15)
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To: pabianice

Budget time ...


9 posted on 05/18/2009 6:11:57 AM PDT by Tarpon (You abolish your responsibilities, you surrender your rights.)
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To: pabianice

They will fund it, the new ACT systen that is in the desiign and implementation currently is totally reliant on it.


10 posted on 05/18/2009 6:13:31 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: Cyclone59

No effect.

They will make up the stats the way they see fit so Demoncrats have the edge.


11 posted on 05/18/2009 6:16:32 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: neodad

It scares me how many friends I have who gush about their GPS and say they will drive to more places they haven’t been to before—because they weren’t sure they’d be able to get themselves when they had to use a map.


12 posted on 05/18/2009 6:19:40 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: pabianice
The US could benefit from the rest of the world paying a user fee to the US for accessing the locations of the satellites paid for by American taxpayers. It's way passed time the rest of the world stopped riding the backs of the American taxpayer while complaining about how we go about running our country.

Pay up international shippers, pay up Riveria boaters, pay up Somalian pirates, pony up the cash, everybody in the world - our community agitator need more money to spend.

13 posted on 05/18/2009 6:23:02 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: orlop9
a cheap sextant on ebay & brush up on celestial nav.

Works when no clouds. OTO keeing in sight of the shore works too.

14 posted on 05/18/2009 6:23:18 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: Cyclone59

Interesting point....

This MUST be why tagging is starting so early and must be finished so quickly.

And if tagging can be stalled in court, it may never happen at all.


15 posted on 05/18/2009 6:37:42 AM PDT by kidd (Obama: The triumph of hope over evidence)
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To: from occupied ga
a cheap sextant on ebay & brush up on celestial nav.

Maybe it's time to see if an inexpensive inertial alternative could be used (yeah, I know about the drift, etc.). Time to brush up on my Kalman filter skills...
16 posted on 05/18/2009 6:58:50 AM PDT by BikerJoe
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To: pabianice
I thought these things were Y2K compliant. Maybe there's a Y3K bug already putting stuff on the fritz.

Don't even THINK about Y10K !!!

17 posted on 05/18/2009 7:00:12 AM PDT by willgolfforfood
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To: BikerJoe

For those who boat off the Atlantic coast, a compass will show them west. If you’re over the horizon and head west, sooner or later you’ll run into land. For those who take small sailboats across the ocean, non working GPS is probably the least of their problems.


18 posted on 05/18/2009 7:02:24 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: pabianice
This is a load of crap. Statistical analysis in the hands of stupid people is a dangerous thing.
19 posted on 05/18/2009 7:12:05 AM PDT by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: pabianice
(Some moonbat in a Cabinet meeting is thinking....)
Big deal, let it fail. It's more money for ACORN and 'Health care'. Our constituents don't know GPS from NBA anyway. Plus, only 'rich republicans' use GPS gizmos, so screw it.
I really wouldn't doubt it, these people are nutz. And if it hurts our Military they're for it.
20 posted on 05/18/2009 7:56:24 AM PDT by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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