Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

GPS Satellite Working diagram
United States Air Force management of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is no longer reliable and” close to collapse “

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) modern car travel have become accustomed to using a satellite navigation system, but the U.S. government released a report warning that the U.S. Air Force management of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is no longer reliable and “close to collapse”, may begin to lose in the next year. According to the report, the Air Force because of serious cost overruns and technical problems can not be updated in accordance with established days and send a new generation of satellites, millions of users may be affected.

Hong Kong, “Ming Pao” report, the report by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) wrote, recently submitted to Congress. GAO criticized in the report, since the early 1990s will be responsible for managing the GPS system of the U.S. Air Force, although maintenance of the system $ 2 billion, but the delays and cost overruns have resulted in maintenance of the whole system collapsed edge.

report notes that “in recent years, the Air Force hopes and plans expenditures within the time limit to complete the repair task, but encountered great technical problems.” Result, the Air Force cost overruns on the GPS system in the management of approximately $ 870 million, and 3-year delay in replacing a new generation of satellites. The report warns, GPS is no longer reliable and “close to collapse”, there may be failure by next year.

the U.S. government was originally scheduled for launch in 2007 its first GPS satellite into space off the bench, but this year have not been implemented, the authorities claimed to have completed before the launch in November this year. The report warns, the Air Force did not adopt the necessary measures to maintain smooth operation of the system, “the Air Force is still unknown whether the time the new satellite into space, in order to maintain the current GPS system without interference.”

“New Scientist” magazine, satellite navigation and GSP device operates on at least four satellite signals for comparing the locked position, the system at any time, 24 satellites are required to standby operation. But in the current operation of 31 satellites, some have “aged” over four years. GAO estimated that by 2011, and 2012, the number of less than 24 operational satellites opportunities for one-fifth. Although this will not make the system completely failed, but its accuracy will be seriously compromised.

GPS system if the failure to prevent the U.S. military in the field of development of the global map to track the target’s defense and intelligence work. Affected people’s daily lives.