Our GPS system needs a backup plan

[BabaVoss]

We rely on GPS for a LOT. More than any of us probably realize. We used to have a plan B, but that system was shut down in 2010, and plans to upgrade it were shelved in the budget process. China has a back up. Russia has a backup. We do not.

We need one. The satellite system is increasingly vulnerable to attack and is a single source of failure for us. No one seems to be actively talking about this, politically, but it really needs to be addressed.

Could you live without GPS? It’s OK, the economy can’t, either — The Indicator from Planet Money — Overcast

overcast.fm

We COULD live without GPS, but at this point it would be costly.

 

[longview]

I guess because I came from a time before GPS I see it as not that necessary.
I think people would just go back to knowing their area and learning how to read a map.

 

[BabaVoss]

I guess because I came from a time before GPS I see it as not that necessary.
I think people would just go back to knowing their area and learning how to read a map.

Me too, but - Listen to the podcast. It would harm the country deeply if it went down. More than just driving directions.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

The GPS system was originally conceived for the Pentagon to pinpoint our military units. There is the greatest threat.

 

[daeler]

We rely on GPS for a LOT. More than any of us probably realize. We used to have a plan B, but that system was shut down in 2010, and plans to upgrade it were shelved in the budget process. China has a back up. Russia has a backup. We do not.

We need one. The satellite system is increasingly vulnerable to attack and is a single source of failure for us. No one seems to be actively talking about this, politically, but it really needs to be addressed.

Could you live without GPS? It’s OK, the economy can’t, either — The Indicator from Planet Money — Overcast

overcast.fm

We COULD live without GPS, but at this point it would be costly.

Street atlas is still available to purchase, same with state maps.

 

[Individual]

Break out the sextant.

 

[Questerr]

We rely on GPS for a LOT. More than any of us probably realize. We used to have a plan B, but that system was shut down in 2010, and plans to upgrade it were shelved in the budget process. China has a back up. Russia has a backup. We do not.

We need one. The satellite system is increasingly vulnerable to attack and is a single source of failure for us. No one seems to be actively talking about this, politically, but it really needs to be addressed.

Could you live without GPS? It’s OK, the economy can’t, either — The Indicator from Planet Money — Overcast

overcast.fm

We COULD live without GPS, but at this point it would be costly.

Russia and China don’t have a “back up”. They have their own systems. And those systems don’t have extensive civilian integration. They are almost entirely used by the Russian and Chinese militaries. If GPS was to go down due to some kind of attack, I guarantee GLONASS and BeiDou would be taken down too and the civilian economies of Russia and China would do no better than the US.

 

[BabaVoss]

Russia and China don’t have a “back up”. They have their own systems. And those systems don’t have extensive civilian integration. They are almost entirely used by the Russian and Chinese militaries. If GPS was to go down due to some kind of attack, I guarantee GLONASS and BeiDou would be taken down too and the civilian economies of Russia and China would do no better than the US.

BeiDou Is used by regular cell phones without restrictions. Not sure about GLONASS.

 

[TangoNoCash]

I guess because I came from a time before GPS I see it as not that necessary.
I think people would just go back to knowing their area and learning how to read a map.

Time to break out the old Thomas Guide.

 

[Questerr]

BeiDou Is used by regular cell phones without restrictions. Not sure about GLONASS.

There's a lot more to the economy than cell phones.

 

[longview]

Me too, but - Listen to the podcast. It would harm the country deeply if it went down. More than just driving directions.

The stated other uses like time, have alternatives like the NTP and NIST, I cannot see software
like POS systems depending on GPS time to continue (If they do it is a very poor implementation).

 

[BabaVoss]

There's a lot more to the economy than cell phones.

Righty. My concern would be things like shipping and farm equipment that is GPS dependent. Missing a crop would be significant.

 

[Questerr]

Righty. My concern would be things like shipping and farm equipment that is GPS dependent. Missing a crop would be significant.

If a nation takes down the GPS network, its WW3. There would be bigger issues than missing a crop.