Air Force denies GPS danger

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 22 May 2009 at 17:54

The US Air Force has refuted suggestions that the GPS network is in danger of failing next year.

A report issued by Government spending watchdog the Government Accountability Office (GAO) claimed that the GPS network was in danger of going down as the US Air Force fell behind in launching new satellites.

The startling 15-page report has prompted a rare response from the US Air Force - in Twitter form no less.

"No, the GPS will not go down," tweeted Colonel Dave Buckman of the Air Force's Space Command at a special convened Twitter press conference. "GAO points out, there is potential risk associated with a degradation in GPS performance."

When asked whether people were likely to notice blackspots in GPS service, Buckman claimed it was "unlikely". He claimed the Air Force has plenty of extra satellites in space, acting as backup should any of the primary satellites fail.

He also noted that secondary functions of the primary satellites, such as detecting nuclear explosions, could be turned off should they ever require spare capacity at a pinch.

"The issue is under control. We are working hard to get out the word," he tweeted. "The issue is not whether GPS will stop working. There's only a small risk we will not continue to exceed our performance standard".

According to Buckman, the GPS network comprises 31 satellites, with nearly $6 billion allocated over the next five years to maintain the satellite and ground control facilities.