Relativity in the Global Positioning 11 Applications

12 Conclusions

The GPS is a remarkable laboratory for applications of the concepts of special and general relativity. GPS is also valuable as an outstanding source of pedagogical examples. It is deserving of more scrutiny from relativity experts. It is particularly important to confirm that the basis for synchronization is on a firm conceptual foundation. A number of other agencies have expressed interest in establishing alternatives to the GPS, since this system is under the military control.

Plans are being made by several countries to put laser-cooled clock(s) having stabilities of tex2html_wrap_inline2030 and accuracies of tex2html_wrap_inline2032, on the International Space Station. This will open up additional possibilities for testing relativity as well as for making improvements in GPS and in other potential navigational satellite systems.



Relativity in the Global Positioning 11 Applications

image Relativity in the Global Positioning System
Neil Ashby
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2003-1
© Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. ISSN 1433-8351
Problems/Comments to livrev@aei-potsdam.mpg.de