The Global Positioning System (GPS) was invented through the combined efforts of several key individuals and organizations mainly within the U.S. Department of Defense. The principal contributors credited with its invention are:
- Roger L. Easton : A scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, he developed critical engineering technologies, including the concept of space-borne precise clocks synchronized to a master clock. He worked on the Timation program which laid the groundwork for GPS technology.
- Ivan A. Getting : He pushed forward the concept of using a system of satellites to calculate precise positioning data. Getting's work at The Aerospace Corporation was vital in the design and development of GPS.
- Bradford Parkinson : Often referred to as the "Father of GPS," he was the first manager of the NAVSTAR GPS Joint Program Office. Parkinson led the GPS development from conception to implementation, coordinating military cooperation and integrating key technologies.
- Gladys West : A mathematician whose work on geodetic Earth modeling was instrumental in creating the precise algorithms used to calculate satellite positions and enable the accuracy of GPS. She has been recognized for her key contributions in satellite geodesy.
GPS evolved from technological advancements starting in the 1960s, combining the satellite navigation concepts, precise atomic clocks, and advanced mathematical modeling to produce the operational system by the 1990s. It was developed as a military project but later made available for civilian use.
In summary, GPS does not have a single inventor but was a collaborative innovation led by Roger Easton, Ivan Getting, Bradford Parkinson, and Gladys West among others, under the U.S. Department of Defense.
