General Information on GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed as a dual-use system with the primary purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of U.S. and allied military forces. GPS is rapidly becoming an integral component of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure, with applications ranging from mapping and surveying to international air traffic management and global change research. The growing demand from military, civil, commercial, and scientific users has generated a U.S. commercial GPS equipment and service industry that leads the world. Augmentations to enhance basic GPS services could further expand these civil and commercial markets. GPS is managed by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee, supported by the PNT Executive Secretariat.The PNT manages GPS and U.S. Government augmentations to GPS, consistent with national policy, to support and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness and productivity while protecting national security and foreign policy interests.The basic GPS is defined as the constellation of satellites, the navigation payloads which produce the GPS signals, ground stations, data links, and associated command and control facilities which are operated and maintained by the Department of Defense; the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) as the civil and commercial service provided by the basic GPS; and augmentations as those systems based on the GPS that provide real-time accuracy greater than the SPS. GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to determine their three dimensional position, velocity, and time, 24 hours a day in all weather, anywhere in the world.
From our site, you may view or download current and archived GPS satellite information such as status messages, precise ephemeris data, and almanacs.
Specific, operational GPS information may be obtained from the links below or from the links on blue navigation bar at the left.
Subscribe to the GPS Status Message and/or the NANU List Serve
Latest PDOP Chart (displays overall Dilution of Precision Values)
GPS Receiver Information for General Users
GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides two-dimensional latitude and longitude (three satellites in view) and three-dimensional (four or more satellites in view) positions, which includes altitude computations in the solution.
The GPS satellites do not have mapping capability, nor do they provide images, street, or institutional naming mechanisms. Such data is provided by the mapping software in your receiver (or by a database that your receiver uses, such as in your automobile). If you have a GPS receiver mapping problem (i.e. it did not give proper directions or a street name), please contact your GPS receiver manufacturer for customer service.
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center will provide any help in a loss or degradation of the GPS signal and you may complete a report of such loss or degradation.
GPS Status Messages
Latest GPS Status Message
GPS Status Message Archives
Report GPS Problems
Please report GPS problems or anomolies via our GPS report-a-problem page. Thank you in advance.
U.S. Policy Statement Regarding GPS Availability
The United States Government recognizes that GPS plays a key role around the world as part of the global information infrastructure and takes seriously the responsibility to provide the best possible service to civil and commercial users worldwide. This is as true in times of conflict as it is in times of peace.
The U.S. Government also maintains the capability to prevent hostile use of GPS and its augmentations while retaining a military advantage in a theater of operations without disrupting or degrading civilian uses outside the theater of operations.
We believe we can ensure that GPS continues to be available as an invaluable global utility at all times, while at the same time, protecting U.S. and coalition security requirements
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed as a dual-use system with the primary purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of U.S. and allied military forces. GPS is rapidly becoming an integral component of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure, with applications ranging from mapping and surveying to international air traffic management and global change research. The growing demand from military, civil, commercial, and scientific users has generated a U.S. commercial GPS equipment and service industry that leads the world. Augmentations to enhance basic GPS services could further expand these civil and commercial markets. GPS is managed by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee, supported by the PNT Executive Secretariat.The PNT manages GPS and U.S. Government augmentations to GPS, consistent with national policy, to support and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness and productivity while protecting national security and foreign policy interests.The basic GPS is defined as the constellation of satellites, the navigation payloads which produce the GPS signals, ground stations, data links, and associated command and control facilities which are operated and maintained by the Department of Defense; the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) as the civil and commercial service provided by the basic GPS; and augmentations as those systems based on the GPS that provide real-time accuracy greater than the SPS. GPS permits land, sea, and airborne users to determine their three dimensional position, velocity, and time, 24 hours a day in all weather, anywhere in the world.
From our site, you may view or download current and archived GPS satellite information such as status messages, precise ephemeris data, and almanacs.
Specific, operational GPS information may be obtained from the links below or from the links on blue navigation bar at the left.
Subscribe to the GPS Status Message and/or the NANU List Serve
Latest PDOP Chart (displays overall Dilution of Precision Values)
GPS Receiver Information for General Users
GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides two-dimensional latitude and longitude (three satellites in view) and three-dimensional (four or more satellites in view) positions, which includes altitude computations in the solution.
The GPS satellites do not have mapping capability, nor do they provide images, street, or institutional naming mechanisms. Such data is provided by the mapping software in your receiver (or by a database that your receiver uses, such as in your automobile). If you have a GPS receiver mapping problem (i.e. it did not give proper directions or a street name), please contact your GPS receiver manufacturer for customer service.
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center will provide any help in a loss or degradation of the GPS signal and you may complete a report of such loss or degradation.
GPS Status Messages
Latest GPS Status Message
GPS Status Message Archives
Report GPS Problems
Please report GPS problems or anomolies via our GPS report-a-problem page. Thank you in advance.
U.S. Policy Statement Regarding GPS Availability
The United States Government recognizes that GPS plays a key role around the world as part of the global information infrastructure and takes seriously the responsibility to provide the best possible service to civil and commercial users worldwide. This is as true in times of conflict as it is in times of peace.
The U.S. Government also maintains the capability to prevent hostile use of GPS and its augmentations while retaining a military advantage in a theater of operations without disrupting or degrading civilian uses outside the theater of operations.
We believe we can ensure that GPS continues to be available as an invaluable global utility at all times, while at the same time, protecting U.S. and coalition security requirements
