GPS: Modern Military Marvels and More Meka Asonye

Origins of GPS First idea came after the launch of Russian Satellite Sputnik –Two Scientists At JHU realized they could pinpoint the location of the satellite by analyzing the Doppler shift of its radio signals during a single pass. –Frank McClure, then chairman of APL's Research Center, went a step further by suggesting that if the satellite's position were known and predictable, the Doppler shift could be used to locate a receiver on Earth; in other words, one could navigate by satellite.

Transit After the JHU’s scientists discoveries, the US navy began research for a system known as transit in The first prototype satellite was launched in September 1959, and the system entered Naval service in 1964.The system provided passive, accurate, reliable, all- weather global navigation for Navy submarines and surface ships

Transit’s Importance Provided crucial navigation to Submarines that needed to stay submerged. –Submarines use periscopes to navigate but these did not provide the necessary accuracy to guide the vessels to their targets. More importantly, Transit was used by US submarines carrying Polaris Nuclear Missiles.

Transit The Transit constellation consisted of two types of satellites designated as Oscar and Nova. The final constellation consisted of six satellites (all Oscars) in a polar orbit, three ground control stations, and receivers. Of the six satellites, three Oscars provided navigation service while three other Oscars were "stored-in-orbit" spares.

Transit’s Satellites NOVA OSCAR

Transit - East Coast, West Coast, Worldwide! Popularity of the system grows as system is opened up to commercial used. Transit eventually boosts tens of thousands of users – military and civilian. Transit proved essential for the recovery at sea of early manned space vehicles, and it became the standard for precision land surveying and the locations of platforms at sea Transit proved essential for the recovery at sea of early manned space vehicles, and it became the standard for precision land surveying and the locations of platforms at sea

Transit – A step in the right direction Although Transits’ use began to die out, it was not retired until 1996, an astonishing 32 years of use. More importantly, systems such as Transit, led to the development of our current GPS constellation.

Modern GPS Military developed constellation of 27 satellites. Our modern GPS primary purpose is to serve the military although, civilian users now outnumber military users.

GPS Satellites Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-powered satellites circles the globe at about 12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites "visible" in the sky.

Military GPS Applications Cruise Missiles, Artillery, bombs, etc. Star Wars Defense Submarine Navigation In the news: Captain Scott O ‘ Grady Combating Terrorism

Cruise Missiles Cruise missile is a generic term for self- propelled guided weapons which fly like normal aircraft for much of their flight. Almost all cruise missiles now are outfitted with GPS for navigation. Pentagon’s favorite little toy.

Tomahawks in Action

Tomahawk layout LENGTH: 5.56 meters (18ft) WEIGHT: 1,300kg (aprox 2,200 lbs) WING SPAN: 2.67 meters (nearly 9ft) RANGE: 1,600km SPEED: 880km/h (550mph) 1. Infrared imagery sensor 2. "DSMAC" guidance system 3. Data/Communications link 4. 1,000lb conventional warhead 5. "DSMAC" illuminator 6. Fuel cell 7. "TERCOM" terrain matching system 8. Turbojet subsonic engine Source: BBC

Tomahawk – Just how do they work? Stage 1: Launch –Paul Revere would be proud –Paul Revere would be proud –1 if by Land –2 if by Sea –3 if by Air 1 23

Tomahawk – GPS’ Job Cruise missiles receive an initial thrust from a detachable booster before onboard systems take over. Once airborne, it releases its wings and switches on navigational and communication systems. The missile is guided at this early stage by GPS and onboard calculations based on its movements since launch.

Tomahawk – TERCOM TERCOM – Terrain Contour Matching Tomahawk missiles carries a 3-D map of its route. In theory, TERCOM allows cruise missiles to avoid detection.

Tomahawk - DSMAC DSMAC – Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation Basically a search and destroy system Only as good as the intelligence that the system is based on Most accurate of all guidance systems used in cruise missiles

Tomahawk – Final Destination US military claims missiles are 90% accurate. 1,000lb warhead detonates

Tomahawk – GPS’ role This technology would be impossible without the use of GPS guiding the missile from its launch point to targets sometimes over 1000 miles away The continuing advancement in GPS and other related technologies has dramatically decreased the cost of a standard cruise missile.

Tomahawk – Future Outlook Improved Target recognition and improved efficiency with missiles Missile re-routing Send live images back to base

GPS and other military uses US army is developing artillery shells that would have GPS guidance. Pentagon allocated new resources to Excalibur artillery shells Compared to current 155- millimeter shells, which typically land more than 370 yards from their target, Excalibur shells could hit within 10 yards of their targets and have a much greater range (more than 35 miles).

Star Wars Defense System Idea has been around since the 80’s Basically, it would be a system that would protect the US and its allies from missile attacks by shooting missiles down before they reached US airspace. Based off of GPS technology

Scandal hits According to the press reports at the time, "An interceptor rocket launched from a remote Pacific atoll managed to hit a mock nuclear warhead launched from California, nearly 240km above the Pacific Ocean. It was the first test of the "hit-to-kill" system since George W Bush took office, and the first of a total of four tests reported to have been wholly successful. (The test missile) managed to disregard the decoy that the Minuteman was carrying and smash into its intended target. "We believe we have a successful test in all aspects the kill intercept was confirmed by all of our sensors," said Lt General Ronald Kadish, speaking at the Pentagon."

Scandal – (cont.) A successful test of the system was vital for the political fortunes of the administration. "Missile defence has been brought into sharp focus by a test planned for Saturday - the first since Mr Bush took office. Previous tests had ended in failure. A US arms control expert said Saturday's test would prove critical to Mr Bush The test had been designed to be as easy as possible. If Saturday's test is not successful, Democrats will have a powerful position from which to fight the Pentagon's request for a 57% increase in the program's budget."

Shame on you, Mr. Bush Dummy nuke that was shot down was shown to have a GPS receiver attached to it. In my opinion the Star Wars system is a waste of the 9 billion dollars it is allotted every year for research.

GPS – The Life Saver June 6, 1995 – Captain Scott O Grady shot down behind enemy lines in Bosnia O’ Grady’s survival pack contained a GPS receiver.

GPS and Hollywood

Combating Terrorism 9/11 revisited –The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working on two GPS-based systems that would protect from hijackers

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