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News tagged with gps

SpaceX capsule completes first tests before ISS docking

The Dragon space capsule, which has launched a new era of commercial spaceflight, completed its first tests before its scheduled docking at the International Space Station, NASA said Wednesday.

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created May 23, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (6) | comments 1

WhatsApp tops UK app charts: Apple

The WhatsApp messenging system, which allows users to send messages for free, has topped Apple's App Store Official UK charts.

Technology / Software

created May 18, 2012 | popularity 1 / 5 (4) | comments 0

EU physicists use 20 new satellites to forecast space weather

The northern lights interfere with radio communications, GPS navigation and satellite communications. Researchers are now going to launch 20 satellites containing world class instruments from the University ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created May 14, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Wireless startup LightSquared files for bankruptcy

LightSquared Inc., which hoped to create an independent wireless broadband network in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Technology / Telecom

created May 14, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 6

Navigating the shopping center

With a GPS receiver in your smartphone, you can navigate your way over highways and streets with certainty. But once you get inside a building, it provides no further assistance. That’s why Fraunhofer ...

Technology / Engineering

created May 10, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Simulated skiers reveal mountain traffic jams

Millions of skiers and snowboarders escape to the mountains every winter, but some everyday stresses -- like traffic jams -- are unavoidable even on the slopes. In plenty of time to prepare for next season, ...

Physics / General Physics

created May 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

GPS on commercial ships could improve tsunami warnings

Commercial ships travel across most of the globe and could provide better warnings for potentially deadly tsunamis, according to a study published May 5 by scientists at the University of Hawaii – Manoa ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created May 07, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Analyzing energy potential

Sensors, radio transmitters and GPS modules all feature low power consumption. All it takes is a few milliwatts to run them. Energy from the environment - from sources such as light or vibrations - may be enough to meet these ...

Technology / Engineering

created May 04, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Rapid tsunami warning by means of GPS

For submarine earthquakes that can generate tsunamis, the warning time for nearby coastal areas is very short. Using high-precision analysis of GPS data from the Fukushima earthquake of 11 March 2011, scientists ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 25, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

NASA tests GPS monitoring system for big U.S. quakes

(Phys.org) -- The space-based technology that lets GPS-equipped motorists constantly update their precise location will undergo a major test of its ability to rapidly pinpoint the location and magnitude of ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

In the Greek isles, a volcano has awakened

In 1650 B.C.E., a series of massive volcanic eruptions decimated the ancient seafaring Minoan civilization. Over the next 4 millennia, the largely subaquatic Santorini caldera had a series of smaller eruptions, with five ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 23, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Recent Indonesia quake added pressure to key fault

(AP) -- Seismologists say last week's powerful earthquake off western Indonesia increased pressure on the source of the devastating 2004 tsunami: a fault that could unleash another monster wave sometime in ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 19, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 4

Solar storms join floods, terrorism as risks to UK

(AP) -- Britain has added volcanoes and solar storms to floods, flu and terrorism on a list of threats to national security.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Mar 18, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Sprint ends deal with LightSquared

(AP) -- Sprint Nextel Corp. is ending its spectrum hosting agreement with LightSquared, whose network looks doomed because regulators say it interferes with GPS navigation devices.

Technology / Telecom

created Mar 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Santorini: The ground is moving again in paradise

Do a Google image search for "Greece." Before you find pictures of the Parthenon or Acropolis, you'll see several beautiful photos of Santorini, the picturesque island in the Aegean Sea. The British Broadcasting ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 13, 2012 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (8) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) developed by the United States Department of Defense and managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. It is the only fully functional GNSS in the world, can be used freely by anyone, anywhere, and is often used by civilians for navigation purposes. It uses a constellation of between 24 and 32 medium Earth orbit satellites that transmit precise radiowave signals, which allow GPS receivers to determine their current location, the time, and their velocity. Its official name is NAVSTAR GPS. Although NAVSTAR is not an acronym, a few backronyms have been created for it.

Since it became fully operational on April 27, 1995, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, scientific uses, tracking and surveillance, and hobbies such as geocaching. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including the scientific study of earthquakes and as a required time synchronization method for cellular network protocols such as the IS-95 standard for CDMA.

For more information about Global Positioning System, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Related topics: satellite