The following is an excerpt from CBS Denver Staff | October 15, 2012 | cbsnews.com |
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. GPS technology can have problems, including a weak signal. But CBS Denver’s Paul Day learned space engineers at Lockheed Martin are working on a new generation of GPS to benefit both the public and the military.
On a foothill trail it can be easy to get lost holding a modern navigation aid. The trouble is rock formations block out the voice of GPS — the global positioning system — according to hiker Scott Lindell.
“It can be scary. You can really worry about whether you can find your way back out,” Lindell said.
It’s not just a backcountry problem. In the heart of major cities tall buildings can silence the GPS signal. The solution lies in the next generation of navigation satellites called GPS III.
“I love being on this program,” Edwina Paisley said.
Paisley is helping assemble and test GPS III at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Jefferson County. For the electrical systems engineer, it’s a rare opportunity for her family and friends to appreciate what she’s doing.
“For the first time in my career I’m working on a program I can share with people what I do and they know what I’m talking about…everyone has a cellphone or a GPS device in their car,” Paisley said.
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