GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS WING
The Global Positioning Systems Wing (GPSW) is a joint service effort directed by the US Air Force and managed at the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The GPSW is the DoD acquisition office for developing and producing GPS satellites, ground systems, and military user equipment.
GPS is a space-based radio-positioning system nominally consisting of a minimum of 24-satellite constellation that provides navigation and timing information to military and civilian users worldwide. GPS satellites, in one of six medium earth orbits, circle the earth every 12 hours emitting continuous navigation signals on two different L-band frequencies, L1 and L2. In addition to the satellites, the system consists of a worldwide satellite control network and GPS receiver units that acquire the satellite's signals and translate them into precise position and timing information.
GPS provides the following:
24-hour, worldwide service
Highly accurate, three-dimensional location information
Precision velocity and timing services
Accessibility to an unlimited number of global military, civilian, and commercial users
As a service to GPS users, the Department of Transportation has established the "Navigation Information Service" (formerly "GPS Information Service") as a point of contact for civil GPS users. Operated and maintained by the United States Coast Guard, the NIS can be reached at (703) 313-5900, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and at www.navcen.uscg.gov.
(Current as of January 2010)
Related fact sheets:
GPS
Pseudorandom Noise (PRN) Code Assignments
GPS Public Interface Control Documents
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