The NAVSTAR GPS was first designed to aid the military for tracking and navigation of ground, sea, and air forces. The United States Army's original purpose for GPS was for "hyper-accurate missile targeting." (Loy) Since that time it has grown from o

The results from this experiment confirm the accuracy of prelaunch GPS. Error studies have been completed for this project and the analysis lends confidence to predictions made by similar studies for future missions (JGR). Evidence shows that the GPSDR on TOPEX/Poseidon obtains an accuracy of three centimeters or better for its orbit. Future missions will take advantage of the GPS system developed for this experiment and should obtain accuracies of five centimeters or better in orbits of a few hundred kilometers (JGR). Although TOPEX/Poseidon has been in operational status since 1992 and has produced precise and accurate readings, it has had its problems.

A second ethical concern arises from GPS technology. GPS satellites can be accessed by anyone around the world. Even if the issue with the corporate use of GPS were solved, a second issue still exists with any individual outside the United States. Many around the world can access a simple GPS receiver and be able to gain access to very precise and accurate tracking and directional information. "The increased performance is also expected to accelerate its acceptance and use by businesses, governments, and private individuals in the U.S. around the world that will enjoy increases in productivity, efficiency, safety, scientific knowledge and quality of life" (Presidential Press Release). From this statement it seems as though the government does not plan to impose any type of taxes or fees to corporate individuals or private individuals in the United States or even around the world. President Clinton states that his decision will "make GPS more responsive to civil and commercial users worldwide" (Clinton). This statement makes it clear that he does not plan to collect any compensation from any individuals, domestic or worldwide. The issue may work out itself as some countries have started to develop their own version of the GPS technology, emulating the United States. But this initiative is taken only by a small percentage of the world. But most still take advantage of the United States' GPS technology. Again, it was stated in the May 2000 Presidential Press Release that the United States Army has the ability to prevent a specific region to gain access to precise tracking from the GPS.

Corporate use of GPS is an ethical issue that must be dealt with. There is an example of this commercial use in India. "GPS is being used with wireless communications to enable commercial truck (lorry) owners to located their vehicles. Private owners are also able to locate their vehicles in cases of emergency or theft" (GPS Exchange). In this case private owners have the ability to use the United States GPS for their benefit. The United States taxpayers funded the project from its start. Just in February 2000, the "[United States'] President Requests $617 Million in FY [Fiscal Year] 2001 for GPS Sustainment and Modernization" (http://www.igeb.gov). The taxpayers are still paying for GPS technology to be maintained and improved. The government, at no cost, allows a private corporation to use GPS. It has been stated in the May 2000 Presidential Release, about GPS, that the United States Government has the ability to prevent access to GPS by region or receiver signal. For example SA was used with civilians in the past and could be used to completely cut private companies' and organizations' access to the satellite system. An issue now arises from this statement. If the government is able to single out signals to the satellite and deny them, then if the government wanted to, it could easily single out the signals from the private companies and charge a fee. Although civilians paid for the technology, it is available to businesses that have not funded for it by means of taxes. I believe that these specific signals should be singled out and the private firms should be charged a nominal fee as a tax on the technology. The government would then obtain a greater amount of

Some common words found in the essay are:
United Government, POD TOPEX/Poseidon, JGR GPS, NASA Poseidon, TOPEX/Poseidon POD, Prediction NCEP, JGR TOPEX/Poseidon, NAVSTAR GPS, Array LRA, Finally TOPEX/Poseidon, gps technology, altimeter data, sea surface, satellite system, wave height, precise accurate, gps receiver, wind speed, united government, navstar gps, sea surface height, geostrophic velocity vectors, anomalies geostrophic velocity, precise accurate tracking, stated 2000 presidential,
Approximate Word count = 3629
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)