Global Positioning System (GPS)

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This is an Article about the Global Positioning System (GPS) in general. For an introduction to the Garmin GPS receiver see Garmin GPS.

Sattelite navigation systems are used for three-dimensional positioning on the surface of the earth. In contrast to other methods of mensuration or positioning, no fixed points on the earth's surface are used as reference points, but satellites circling in the earth's orbit.

GPS (NAVSTAR-GPS = Navigation System with Satellite Timing and Ranging - Global Positioning System) was the first satellite based navigation system to be established by the pentagon. Main components of this system were 24 satellites (21 satellites plus 3 active backup satellites), encircling the earth on 6 defined tracks in a distance of 20.000 km, allowing positioning on earth's surface in each time and place.