Smithsonian
  • Navigating
    at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating
    in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating
    in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation
    for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition

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Time and Navigation Home
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Time and Navigation
The untold story of getting from here to there.
Home

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  • Navigating at Sea
  • Navigating in the Air
  • Navigating in Space
  • Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research Journal
  • Visit the Exhibition
  • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Navigation Gone Wrong: Soviets Shoot Down an Airliner
  • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Inertial Navigation
      • Charles Stark Draper
      • Developing Inertial Navigation
    • The First Satellite Navigation System
      • Transit Satellites
      • Navigating a Submarine
    • Improving Satellite Navigation
      • Clocks in Space
      • Evolving Solutions
  • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • GPS Begins
    • The Satellite Constellation
    • Synchronized Accurate Time
    • Risks to the System
    • International Systems
  • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
    • Military Applications
    • Civilian Applications
      • The Commercial Market
      • Improving Accuracy
      • Looking Ahead

Explore More

Geoid »
Transit Receiver »
NTS-2 Satellite »
GPS Accuracy With and Without Selective Availability  »
Third Prototype Satellite for GPS Constellation »

International Systems

As in the past, nations with global ambitions continue to seek global navigation capabilities. 

The GPS system operated by the United States is not the only satellite navigation system. In the 1990s and 2000s, many nations began developing or improving their own systems.

Who's in Charge of Satellite Navigation Systems?

Different nations develop and deploy independent navigation capabilities. Multiple constellations of satellites can improve positioning, navigation, and timing for everyone. Planning is required so systems do not interfere with each other.

International Systems

GPS—Operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and coordinated with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other civilian government agencies.

GLONASS—Initially developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War and now operated as a global system by Russia’s Federal Space Agency.

Galileo—Under development as a civilian-operated global system by a consortium of European nations. Operations are coordinated by an agency under the auspices of the European Commission.

Beidou—The Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) was planned and developed by the government of China. Global coverage with about 35 satellites was planned for 2020.

IRNSS—The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began developing the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) in 2006 to provide positioning services around India.

QZSS—The Japanese government planned to develop the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) to provide data links and positioning services for Japan.

624_international_systems_map.jpg

Map of Satellite Systems
Map of nations with satellite navigation systems.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
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  • Navigating at Sea
    • Challenges of Sea Navigation
    • Navigating Without a Clock
    • The Longitude Problem
    • The U.S. Goes to Sea
    • Navigate at Sea! Activity
  • Navigating in the Air
    • Challenges of Air Navigation
    • Early Air Navigators
    • Navigation at War
    • Navigate the Skies! Activity
  • Navigating in Space
    • Challenges of Space Navigation
    • Reaching for the Moon
    • Navigating in Deep Space
    • Navigate in Space! Activity
  • Satellite Navigation
    • Challenges of Satellite Navigation
    • Reliable Global Navigation
    • Global Positioning System (GPS)
    • Who Uses Satellite Navigation
  • Navigation for Everyone
    • Meet a Professional Navigator
    • Personal Navigation Stories
  • Timeline of Innovation
  • Artifacts
  • Learning Resources
  • Multimedia Gallery
  • Research
  • Visit the Exhibition
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