Global Positioning System
| Country/ies of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Operator(s) | US Space Force (Mission Delta 31) |
| Type | Military, civilian |
| Status | Operational |
| Coverage | Global |
| Accuracy | 30–500 cm (0.98–16 ft) |
| Constellation size | |
| Nominal satellites | 24 |
| Current usable satellites | 31 operational |
| First launch | February 22, 1978 |
| Last launch | January 28, 2026 |
| Total launches | 81 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Regime | 6 MEO planes |
| Orbital height | 20,180 km (12,540 mi) |
| Orbital period | 1⁄2 sidereal day or 11 hours and 58 minutes |
| Revisit period | 1 sidereal day |
| Other details | |
| Cost |
|
| Website | gps.gov |
| Geodesy |
|---|
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based hyperbolic navigation system owned by the United States Space Force and operated by Mission Delta 31. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth where signal quality permits. It does not require the user to transmit any data, and operates independently of any telephone or Internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the GPS positioning information. It provides critical positioning capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world. Although the United States government created, controls, and maintains GPS, it is freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver.