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The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio navigation system, consisting of 24 satellites and ground support, that provides accurate, three-dimensional position, velocity, and time, 24 hours a day, everywhere in the world, and in all weather conditions (To see how the "GPS-birds" (satellites) circle the earth - click this link to view a nice Java applet showing how!).

It was initiated in 1973 and the first GPS satellite was launched on 21 February 1978. When you buy a GPS, you are actually buying only the GPS receiver and get free use of the other two main components, worth billions of dollars - compliments of the Government of the United States. (If you don't have a GPS, BUY ONE NOW, before losing out on the free use of billions of dollars of technology!) The ground stations send control signals to the GPS satellites, the GPS satellites transmit radio signals and the GPS receivers receive these signals and use it to calculate its position.