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

Search form

Time and Navigation Home
Facebook Twitter YouTube Pinterest
Time and Navigation
The untold story of getting from here to there.
Home

Search form

  • 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

How GPS Works »
System Under Attack »
Model of Ship’s Inertial Navigation (SINS) Stable Platform  »
Transit Receiver Mounted in a Vehicle in the Egyptian Desert »
Transit Receiver »

Risks to the System

Threats can imperil satellite navigation systems.

Satellites provide essential navigation services, but threats exist to their operation. Radio interference from both natural and human sources presents serious problems for the system’s myriad users. Engineers and scientists continue to develop solutions to ensure the continued operation of global navigation services.

Solar Interference

Solar activity can interfere with satellite signals. Solar storms occasionally interrupt clear reception of signals from space. Those who design satellite systems must plan for these disruptions and be aware of how solar activity varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle.

System Maintenance

The successful operation of a satellite navigation system requires around-the-clock monitoring of the satellites’ health and the periodic replacement of older satellites. The process is labor-intensive and expensive and requires multiple backups to ensure continuous operation. 

Man-made Radio Interference

GPS and other satellite positioning systems were designed to use quiet parts of the spectrum. However, these channels face the danger of being overwhelmed by communications signals from other nearby frequencies. Engineers must test the possibility of interference from multiple systems. 

Intentional Jamming 

Although their use is illegal in the United States, portable GPS jammers are traded clandestinely and used by those who wish not to be tracked or otherwise located by GPS. These devices cause nearby navigation systems to malfunction, potentially threatening public safety.

System Under Attack

The increasing reliance on navigation satellites for military and commercial activities makes them a tempting target for an enemy. While it is difficult to disable the satellites themselves, these and other GPS components must be protected from interference or attack.

 

 

 

624-667436main_20120712_164532_orig_full.jpg

Solar Interference
Solar activity can interfere with satellite signals.
Credit: NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams

684373main_earth_scale-orig_full.jpg

Solar Flare
Intense solar activity causes material to erupt from the Sun.
Credit: NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams

624-070913-f-2661b-203_-_tech._sgt._dana_ammend_uploads_navigation_and_timing_data_sept._13_to_global_positioning_system.jpg

System Maintenance
The successful operation of a satellite navigation system requires around-the-clock monitoring of the satellites’ health and the periodic replacement of older satellites.
Credit: U.S. Air Force

624-gps_0047.jpg

Man-made Radio Interference
GPS and other satellite positioning systems were designed to use quiet parts of the spectrum.
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

624-jammer_picture_from_web_-_use_for_intentional_jamming.jpg

Intentional Jamming
Portable GPS jammers are traded clandestinely and used by those who wish not to be tracked or otherwise located by GPS.
Credit: Mr. Youngmo Ahn

624-124835_-_tank_2.jpg

System Under Attack
The increasing reliance on navigation satellites for military and commercial activities makes them a tempting target for an enemy.
Credit: U.S. Army
previous pauseresume next
  • 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
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Sponsors
  • Press
  • Donate
Smithsonian Logo National Air and Space Museum Home National Air and Space Museum Home National Museum of American History Home
Smithsonian
Home Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest YouTube

This exhibition is a collaboration between the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History.

Sponsors | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy