Could GPS Satellite Failures Affect RVers?
When Chicken Little trumpeted the alert that the sky was falling, to her, the initial response must have been gratifying. Depending on which version you read (or watch) the end of it all might not be so pleasant. For RVers who depend on the Global Positioning Satellite System as they make their way around the country, the current issue at hand is not an acorn dropping out of the sky, but of GPS satellites dropping out of service.
It all stems from a report by Uncle Sam’s own watchdog group, the GAO (Government Accounting Office). Last month the GAO released a report that suggests the GPS system, maintained by the US Air Force, could be in trouble. The key phrase from the GAO report is this: “It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption. If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.”
When might these problems appear? “There will be an increased likelihood that in 2010,” says the GAO, “as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to. Such a gap in capability could have wide-ranging impacts on all GPS users.” The GAO says it’s not optimistic that the Air Force will be able to meet its own schedule of getting new GPS satellites up in orbit in time to cover the loss of older ones.
If the sky is falling, say some, it’s not raining acorns, but space junk.
So, in 2010, is there a risk that you might, with the aid of a misinformed GPS, in the words of Bugs Bunny, “Take a wrong toin at Alba-koiky?” Not according to Air Force brass. In an article carried by Computer World magazine, the chief officer of GPS operations for the military says there’s no fear that the GPS system will, “go down.” Colonel Dave Buckman says, “There is a potential risk, but GPS isn’t falling out of the sky. We have plans to mitigate risk and prevent a gap in coverage.”
GPS manufactuers were quick to point out that while the military needs 24 operating GPS satellites to provide the finely tuned precision for military operations, consumer GPS units can fly along with just four satellites shooting data down toward the earth. The bottom line from GPS sellers is: Don’t put off plans to buy a GPS unit because the GAO is playing Chicken Little.
The debate over this issue will no doubt go on. With less than 24 satellites, a GAO staffer says the military will need to throw a lot more bombs to hit the target. With four or more, says the GPS industry, you can still get to Grandma’s house in time for turkey. Time will tell.
photo: NASA
