What Is Global Positioning System (GPS)?

We've all been there. You're lost in nowhere and need help deciding which direction to go. Well, GPS is a way to navigate out of that jam! The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the gift that keeps giving. It's a navigation system designed by the U.S. Department of Defense that uses satellites orbiting the Earth. It was primarily used in vital military applications until 1994 when it became fully operational and available to civilians. The GPS was developed in 1973 to overcome old navigation systems, which had problems: they couldn't be relied upon in times of war or bad weather and were expensive. They required much maintenance and were so slow that they took forever to get you back on track if you got lost. Now? With GPS? The sky is the limit! You can use it to find your way across town or an ocean—all you need is an internet connection (or a phone), which means no matter what kind of trouble comes your way, you'll always have access to this fantastic technology. GPS is a little like the Death Star. It has the power to destroy but also has a good side. GPS can help us get around, even when lost in space! It works like this: 24 satellites orbit our planet, and 21 are always active. They send out radio waves that tell our phones and computers where they are, so we can know where we are too. These satellites have atomic clocks and computers on board (just like your phone), which allow them to calculate their location in space at all times. When you use GPS on your phone or computer, you're using these satellites to figure out where you are—and then send that information back into space for other people's devices to receive. The data travels at the speed of light, so even though it takes longer than just asking someone where they think they are (or looking at a map), it helps everyone get there faster!