Global Positioning System Timeline of Events

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Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...

Timeline of Events

1989

2.14.1989

The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit.

1997

1.17.1997

A Delta 2 carrying a GPS2R satellite explodes 13 seconds after launch, dropping 250 tons of burning rocket remains around the launch pad.

2000

5.2.2000

President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.

5.3.2000

The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet.