US media: Upgrade too slow, GPS system no longer leading, civilian sector may be threatened

On October 16th, it was reported that nearly 50 years after its birth, GPS is facing the possibility of losing its "gold standard" for global positioning services as the system gradually ages and similar services have been developed by China, Russia, and the European Union.The US military, responsible for managing GPS, plans to upgrade the system with more modern satellites to provide more accurate coordinates

On October 16th, it was reported that nearly 50 years after its birth, GPS is facing the possibility of losing its "gold standard" for global positioning services as the system gradually ages and similar services have been developed by China, Russia, and the European Union.

The US military, responsible for managing GPS, plans to upgrade the system with more modern satellites to provide more accurate coordinates. But the new generation of civilian GPS services is not expected to be put into use within a few years.

Scholars and US officials argue that delaying the upgrade does not mean that GPS is heading towards failure. But they also acknowledge that more modern satellite positioning systems in other countries may have an impact on global commerce.

GPS provides free and practical tools for the general public, pioneering the positioning, navigation, and timing industries. This service was initially developed by the US military and later became an essential tool for real-time positioning of smartphones, ships, and smart devices.

In 1973, the US Pentagon first authorized the GPS project. In 1978, the US Air Force launched its first satellite and it was fully operational in 1995. Currently, the US space force has taken over the management of GPS launches.

The dependence of civilian users on GPS exceeds the initial concept of system planners. For example, Uber drivers use GPS data from smartphones to locate and arrange passengers, while power companies use precise atomic clocks from GPS networks to detect power transmission failures.

Other countries are also developing satellite systems similar to GPS. The Glonass system of Russia and the Galileo system of the European Union provide global positioning services, while satellites from Japan and India mainly broadcast data to their surrounding areas.

China's Beidou satellite navigation system has developed rapidly since the launch of two satellites in 2000. In 2020, it achieved global coverage with 46 satellites, surpassing the 31 satellites in the US GPS system.

The Beidou satellite navigation system is supported by at least 30 high-precision monitoring stations, which can accurately locate within a few centimeters and provide basic two-way communication functions.

Last year, Apple introduced a new feature in the iPhone 14 series to call emergency personnel through satellite. Just a few days ago, Huawei phones also released similar features. The implementation of this function benefits from the infrastructure of the Beidou satellite navigation system.

Sarah Sewall, Executive Vice President of In Q-Tel, a technology investment company, said that GPS was once considered more advantageous than other global satellite systems, but this is no longer clear. The dominant position of GPS has been eroded

The GPS system broadcasts precise time measurement results through satellites, and the device uses the timestamps of multiple satellites to determine the location.

The satellite navigation systems in China, Europe, and Russia allow free use of civilian signals without bringing direct profits. John Betz, an honorary researcher at Mitre, a non-profit research institution funded by the United States, has contributed to the modernization of GPS. He said that apart from boosting domestic aerospace industries in various countries, it is currently difficult to see direct benefits.

But the new system features more advanced features. Future smartphone, automotive, and industrial equipment manufacturers may choose to rely on signals from the Beidou satellite navigation system instead of GPS.

Bates said, "There is always some inertia in modernizing GPS." "This doesn't start with a blank slate." For example, although the United States plans to add new channels to GPS, it still plans to continue using GPS's original radio frequencies to avoid the obsolescence of billions of devices that rely on GPS.

The US space force stated in a statement that the GPS system will continue to set the gold standard in satellite positioning and navigation. A spokesperson said, "Although other countries may improve in terms of equivalent performance, including accuracy and availability, GPS remains a clear leader in integrity and is the only system used in the international aviation industry

For a long time, the US military has planned to improve the GPS system with a batch of modern and scalable satellites. These satellites can provide more accurate coordinates with less interference. Upgrade the satellite to broadcast data to civilian users through a new frequency called L5.

After encountering a series of delays, there are now 17 satellites equipped with L5 frequency in orbit, but they have not yet reached the 24 satellites required to operate a reliable system. Some of the new satellites have been built and are waiting to be launched into space in warehouses in Colorado.

The US space force has stated that it will continue to expand systems equipped with new frequencies and will be fully operational by 2027. Another batch of satellite programs were put into use in the 1930s. These two satellite upgrade projects are expected to cost a total of over $15 billion.

Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery of the US military expressed concern about the slow upgrade of GPS systems, pointing out that civilian industries that rely on GPS are blind spots. Montgomery said, "This system is crucial to our infrastructure, and we have almost no flexibility. In fact, the US GPS system is starting to decline." He urged the US space forces to accelerate the speed of future satellite launches.

Lockheed Martin has manufactured four new satellites, one of which is scheduled to be launched in mid-2024. Julie Best, Project Management Director, stated that the company has created a new set of features in satellites and simplified production processes to help quickly enhance and deliver GPS systems. The company is ready for the GPS launch planned by the US space force. (Chen Chen)