GPS system 'close to breakdown' | Technology

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" itemtype="http://schema.org/NewsArticle" itemscope> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown","20130926155833","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1380211113"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title> GPS system 'close to breakdown' | Technology | theguardian.com </title> <meta charset="utf-8"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=Edge,chrome=1"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown"/> <meta name="description" content="Network of satellites could begin to fail as early as 2010"/> <meta name="DC.date.issued" content="2009-05-19"> <meta name="llt" content="ASFYkn3A"/> <meta property="og:title" content="GPS system 'close to breakdown'"/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2009-05-19T10:32:06+01:00"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2009-05-19T12:12:22+01:00"/> <meta property="article:author" content="http://www.theguardian.com/profile/bobbiejohnson"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="GPS"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Technology"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Science"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Space"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Mobile phones"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="Satellites"/> <meta property="article:section" content="Technology"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static-secure.guim.co.uk/icons/social/og/gu-logo-fallback.png"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="the Guardian"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Network of satellites could begin to fail as early as 2010"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="180444840287"/> <meta name="keywords" content="GPS,Technology,Science,Space,Mobile phones,Satellites,Technology"/> <meta name="news_keywords" content="GPS,Technology,Science,Space,Mobile phones,Satellites,Technology"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <meta name="application-name" content="The Guardian"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#004983"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/favicons/windows_tile_144_b.png"/> <link rel="shorturl" href="http://gu.com/p/27nhh"/> <meta name="content-id" content="/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown"/> <link rel="publisher" href="https://plus.google.com/113000071431138202574"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@guardian"> <meta name="twitter:app:name:iphone" content="The Guardian"> <meta name="twitter:app:id:iphone" content="409128287"> <meta name="twitter:app:name:googleplay" content="The Guardian"> <meta name="twitter:app:id:googleplay" content="com.guardian"> <meta name="twitter:app:url:googleplay" content="guardian://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown"> <meta name="p:domain_verify" content="4f4576e6bac27d86fd926c4579b97f23"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://feeds.theguardian.com/theguardian/technology/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Technology RSS feed"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gps/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="GPS RSS feed"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/mobilephones/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Mobile phones RSS feed"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://feeds.theguardian.com/theguardian/science/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Science RSS feed"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/space/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Space RSS feed"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/satellites/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Satellites RSS feed"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/styles/article-top.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/styles/print.css" media="print" class="contrast"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/zones/news/styles/zone-accent.css" media="screen" class="contrast"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/styles/base-typography.css" media="screen"/>     <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://combo.guim.co.uk/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/badge+content-actions+content-share-tools+default-ad-placeholders+floating-share-tools+header-local-info+list-of-trails-promo+page-toolbox+related-keywords+series-component+sprites+tag-badging+top-navigation.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://combo.guim.co.uk/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/m-1044~/static/email-subscription/css/email-subscription+m-1044~/static/outbrain/style_v2+m-1541~static/css/gigantic+m-2041~static/css/yappy3.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/styles/article-page-typography.css" media="screen"/> </head> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (!commonStaticRoot) { var commonStaticRoot = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/"; } if (!sectionStaticRoot) { var sectionStaticRoot = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/technology/"; } if (!staticHost) { var staticHost="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.guardian.co.uk/"; } if (!sitePrefixUrl) { var sitePrefixUrl = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com"; } if(!discussionApiUrl) { var discussionApiUrl = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://discussion.guardianapis.com"; } //]]> </script> <script> var guardian = { r2: { comScoreVideoEnabled: true, oasEnabled: true, liveEnvironment: true }, page: { contentId: '/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown', type: 'article', section: 'technology', zone: 'news', edition: 'US', showAdverts: false, showRelated: true , showCommercialRelated: true } }; </script>  <script> guardian.r2['oas'] = { rns : '1234567890', sitepage : "www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown/oas.html", query : 'k=gps&k=space&k=science&k=mobilephones&k=technology&k=satellites&cf=technology+gadgets&pid=&ct=article&pt=article&', host : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://oas.theguardian.com' }; OAS_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://oas.theguardian.com/RealMedia/ads/'; OAS_sitepage = "www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown/oas.html"; OAS_listpos = 'Top,Middle2,Middle1,x31,Position4'; OAS_query = 'k=gps&k=space&k=science&k=mobilephones&k=technology&k=satellites&cf=technology+gadgets&pid=&ct=article&pt=article&'; OAS_target = '_blank'; OAS_rn = '001234567890'; OAS_rns = '1234567890'; OAS_rn = new String (Math.random()); OAS_rns = OAS_rn.substring (2, 11); // Add segments from rev_sci cookie to OAS_query. OAS_query += (function() { var hasStorage = (function() { try { localStorage.setItem("xxx_localstorage_test", "xxx_localstorage_test"); localStorage.removeItem("xxx_localstorage_test"); return true; } catch(e) { return false; } }()); var revSciString = ""; if (hasStorage && true) { if (localStorage.getItem('rsi_segs_csv')) { revSciString = localStorage.getItem('rsi_segs_csv'); } } else { var cookieMatch = document.cookie.match(/rsi_segs_csv=([^;]*)/); if(cookieMatch && cookieMatch.length > 1) { revSciString = unescape(cookieMatch[1]); } } var oasSegs = "a=" + (revSciString.split(',').slice(0,100).join('&a=')) + "&"; if(hasStorage) { localStorage.setItem('aparams', oasSegs); } return oasSegs; })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var gdnCrmSegs = "&"; OAS_query = OAS_query + gdnCrmSegs var guardian = guardian || {}; guardian.r2 = guardian.r2 || {}; guardian.r2.revsci = guardian.r2.revsci || {}; guardian.r2.revsci.adData = [ ]; try { localStorage.setItem('gdncrmparams', gdnCrmSegs); } catch(er) { // Ignore } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> // Chartbeat timing variable var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime(); </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://pasteup.guim.co.uk/js/lib/jquery/1.8.1/jquery.min.js">\x3C/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://pasteup.guim.co.uk/js/lib/jquery.cookie/1.2/jquery.cookie.min.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://pasteup.guim.co.uk/js/lib/jquery.writecapture/1.0.5/jquery.writecapture.min.js"></script> <script> var jQ = jQuery.noConflict(); jQ.ajaxSetup({ cache: true }); </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/scripts/gu-core.js"></script> <script> var thirdPartyReferralCookieService = new guardian.r2.ThirdPartyReferralCookieService(); thirdPartyReferralCookieService.setThirdPartyReferralCookie(); var communitiesSite = false; guardian.r2.resourceRoot = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://resource.guim.co.uk/"; var pageUrl = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown"; var RESOURCE_ROOT = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://resource.guim.co.uk/'; </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://pasteup.guim.co.uk/js/lib/requirejs/2.1.5/require.min.js" data-main="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/scripts/main.js" data-modules="gu/author-twitter-handles, http://id.guim.co.uk/static/cs/js/guardian.identity.clientside-toolkit.js" data-callback="" id="require-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function insertStyleSheet(href) { var styleObject = document.createElement('link'); styleObject.setAttribute('href', commonStaticRoot + href); styleObject.setAttribute('type', 'text/css'); styleObject.setAttribute('media', 'screen'); styleObject.setAttribute('rel', 'stylesheet'); var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; head.appendChild(styleObject); } insertStyleSheet('styles/js-on.css'); insertPluckStylesheet = true; //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://combo.guim.co.uk/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/scripts/button-facebook+common/scripts/button-google-plus+common/scripts/button-linkedin+common/scripts/button-tweet+common/scripts/convertJSONtoAd+common/scripts/floating-share-tools+common/scripts/formChecker+common/scripts/glossaryPopupView+common/scripts/guardian.geolocation+common/scripts/guardian.r2.EmailToAFriend+common/scripts/guardian.r2.OmnitureTracking+common/scripts/guardian.r2.ShareThis+common/scripts/mediamath-tag+common/scripts/modules/sticky-sidebar+common/scripts/sendtoafriend+common/scripts/signinTopNav.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://combo.guim.co.uk/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/m-1044~/static/email-subscription/js/email-subscription+m-1044~/static/outbrain/main_v2+m-2041~static/js/yappy7.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> ensurePackage('guardian.r2.omniture'); guardian.r2.omniture.isAvailable = function(){ return true; } </script> <body class=" article "> <div id="wrapper"> <div id="header"> <div id="sub-header"> <div class="top-navigation twelve-col top-navigation-js"> <div class="user-functions"> <div id="video-settings"> <div class="cookied"> <p class="on"><a class="autoplay-off" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay off</a></p> <p class="off"><a class="autoplay-on" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay on</a></p> </div> <div class="not-cookied"> <p>Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off</p> </div> </div> <div id="skiplinks"> <ul> <li><a href="#box" accesskey="s">Jump to content [s]</a></li> <li><a href="#start-of-comments" accesskey="c">Jump to comments [c]</a></li> <li><a href="#global-nav" accesskey="0">Jump to site navigation [0]</a></li> <li><a href="#searchbeta" accesskey="4">Jump to search [4]</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service" accesskey="8">Terms and conditions [8]</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="edition-selector"> <div id="drop-down-edition" class="change-to-us" tabindex="20"> <h2>Edition:</h2> <span class="UK"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/edition-permission/uk">UK</a></span> <span class="US current-edition">US</span> <span class="AU"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/edition-permission/au">AU</a></span> </div> </div> <div class="user-details"> <div class="drop-down id-profile-links initially-off"> <h2 class="id-populate-with-display-name"></h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.theguardian.com/profile/?returnUrl=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown">Your activity</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.theguardian.com/email/list?returnUrl=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown">Email subscriptions</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.theguardian.com/dashboard?returnUrl=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown">Account details</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.theguardian.com/linked-services?returnUrl=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown">Linked services</a></li> </ul> </div> <noscript> <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.theguardian.com/dashboard?returnUrl=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown">Profile</a></span> </noscript> <span class="id-sign-in-top-nav initially-off"><a></a></span> <span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown?view=mobile" class="switch-to-mobile" data-link-name="Switch to mobile" rel="nofollow">Mobile</a></span> </div> <div id="drop-down-1" class="drop-down" tabindex="21"> <h2> About us </h2> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us" class="link-text">About us</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact" class="link-text">Contact us</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-us-press-office" class="link-text">Press office</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service" class="link-text">Terms of service</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy" class="link-text">Privacy policy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="other-functions"> <div id="drop-down-3" class="drop-down mirror" tabindex="23"> <h2> Subscribe </h2> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/mobile/iphone/guardian" class="link-text">Guardian iPhone</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/mobile/ipad/guardian-ipad-edition" class="link-text">iPad edition</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.amazon.com/The-Guardian-and-the-Observer/dp/B004MME3M8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3TVV12T0I6NSM&s=digital-text&qid=1310129212&sr=1-2" class="link-text">Kindle</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/weekly/subscribe" class="link-text">Guardian Weekly</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://guardian.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx" class="link-text">Digital edition</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="Top" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Top"></div> </div> </div> <div id="guardian-logo" class="trackable-component" data-component="Article:guardian logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/us"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/logos/the-guardian/news.gif" width="115" height="22" alt="The Guardian home"/></a> </div> <script> (function() { var cx = '015267030705423474967:wogwzhj1luu'; var gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); })(); </script> <gcse:search enableautocomplete="true"></gcse:search> <style> .gsc-control-cse { width: 25rem !important; padding: 0; float: right; } input.gsc-search-button { background-color: #BDBDBD; border-color: #BDBDBD; } input.gsc-search-button:hover { background-color: #999; border-color: #999; } </style> <div id="zones-nav"> <div id="global-nav" class="trackable-component" data-component="Article:global nav"> <ul> <li class="first news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.guardiannews.com/" data-link-name="1:News">News</a> </li> <li class="news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/usa" data-link-name="2:US">US</a> </li> <li class="news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world" data-link-name="3:World">World</a> </li> <li class="sport"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/sport" data-link-name="4:Sports">Sports</a> </li> <li class="comment"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/us/commentisfree" data-link-name="5:Comment">Comment</a> </li> <li class="culture"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/culture" data-link-name="6:Culture">Culture</a> </li> <li class="business"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/us/business" data-link-name="7:Business">Business</a> </li> <li class="money"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/us/money" data-link-name="8:Money">Money</a> </li> <li class="environment"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/environment" data-link-name="9:Environment">Environment</a> </li> <li class="news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science" data-link-name="10:Science">Science</a> </li> <li class="travel"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/travel" data-link-name="11:Travel">Travel</a> </li> <li class="news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology" data-link-name="12:Tech">Tech</a> </li> <li class="news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/media" data-link-name="13:Media">Media</a> </li> <li class="life-and-style"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle" data-link-name="14:Life & style">Life & style</a> </li> <li class="last news"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/data" data-link-name="15:Data">Data</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="trackable-component crumb-wrapper" data-component="Article:crumb nav" xmlns:v="http://rdf.data-vocabulary.org/#"> <ul class="crumb-nav"> <li id="crumb1"> <span typeof="v:Breadcrumb"> <a rel="v:url" property="v:title" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/us" data-link-name="News">News</a> </span> </li> <li id="crumb2"> <span typeof="v:Breadcrumb"> <a rel="v:url" property="v:title" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology" data-link-name="Technology">Technology</a> </span> </li> <li id="crumb3"> <span typeof="v:Breadcrumb"> <a rel="v:url" property="v:title" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gps" data-link-name="GPS">GPS</a> </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="box"> <div id="article-header"> <div id="main-article-info"> <h1 itemprop="name headline ">GPS system 'close to breakdown'</h1> <p itemprop="description" id="stand-first" class="stand-first-alone" data-component="Article:standfirst_cta">Network of satellites could begin to fail as early as 2010</p> </div> <ul id="content-actions" class="share-links trackable-component" data-component="Article:top share tools"> <li class="full-line facebook"> <span class="facebook-share"> <a class="facebook-share-btn" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=180444840287&link=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown&display=popup&redirect_uri=http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/facebook-share/callback.html&show_error=false&ref=desktop" data-href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-link-name="Facebook Share"> <span class="facebook-share-icon"></span> <span class="facebook-share-label">Share</span> </a> </span> </li> <li class="full-line"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://gu.com/p/27nhh/tw" data-via="guardian" data-counturl="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-related="guardiantech" data-text="GPS system 'close to breakdown'">Tweet this</a> </li> <li class="full-line google-plus" data-link-name="Google plus"> <div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-callback="trackGPlusTop"></div> </li> <li class="full-line linked-in" data-link-name="LinkedIn"> <script type="IN/Share" data-counter="right" data-showzero="true"></script> </li> <li class="full-line email" data-link-name="email this story"> <a class="rollover send-email" href="#" title="Send to a friend"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/icon-email.png" alt="" class="trail-icon"/>Email</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <ul class="article-attributes trackable-component b4" data-component="Article:byline"> <li class="byline"> <div class="contributor-full"> <span itemscope itemprop="author" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name"><a class="contributor" rel="author" itemprop="url" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/profile/bobbiejohnson">Bobbie Johnson</a></span></span>, San Francisco </div> </li> <li class="publication"> <a itemprop="publisher" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/">theguardian.com</a>, <time itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2009-05-19T05:32EDT" pubdate>Tuesday 19 May 2009 05.32 EDT</time> </li> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-discussion-comment-counts"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/static/file/discussion/5/fill-comment-counts-swimlaned.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <li class="comment-count"> <a href="#start-of-comments" class="content-comment-count" data-link-name="comment-count" short-url="-p-27nhh"><span class="comment-count-text">Jump to comments</span> (<span class="comment-count-val">…</span>)</a> </li> </ul> <div id="article-wrapper" class="trackable-component " data-component="Article:in body link"> <div id="article-body-blocks"> <p>It has become one of the staples of modern, hi-tech life: using satellite navigation tools built into your car or mobile phone to find your way from A to B. But experts have warned that the system may be close to breakdown.</p><p>US government officials are concerned that the quality of the Global Positioning System (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gps" title="More from guardian.co.uk on GPS">GPS</a>) could begin to deteriorate as early as next year, resulting in regular blackouts and failures – or even dishing out inaccurate directions to millions of people worldwide.</p><p>The warning centres on the network of GPS <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/satellites" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Satellites">satellites</a> that constantly orbit the planet and beam signals back to the ground that help pinpoint your position on the Earth's surface.</p><p>The satellites are overseen by the US Air Force, which has maintained the GPS network since the early 1990s. According to a study by the US government accountability office (GAO), mismanagement and a lack of investment means that some of the crucial GPS satellites could begin to fail as early as next year.</p><p>"It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption," said the report, presented to Congress. "If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected."</p><p>The report says that Air Force officials have failed to execute the necessary steps to keep the system running smoothly.</p><p>Although it is currently spending nearly $2bn (£1.3bn) to bring the 20-year-old system up to date, the GAO – which is the equivalent of Britain's National Audit Office – says that delays and overspending are putting the entire system in jeopardy.</p><p>"In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals," said the report. "It encountered significant technical problems … [and] struggled with a different contractor."</p><p>The first replacement GPS satellite was due to launch at the beginning of 2007, but has been delayed several times and is now scheduled to go into orbit in November this year – almost three years late.</p><p>The impact on ordinary users could be significant, with millions of satnav users potential victims of bad directions or failed services. There would also be similar side effects on the military, which uses GPS for mapping, reconnaissance and for tracking hostile targets.</p><p>Some suggest that it could also have an impact on the proliferation of so-called location applications on mobile handsets – just as applications on the iPhone and other GPS-enabled smartphones are starting to get more popular.</p><p>Tom Coates, the head of Yahoo's Fire Eagle system – which lets users share their location data from their mobile – said he was sceptical that US officials would let the system fall into total disrepair because it was important to so many people and companies.</p><p>"I'd be surprised if anyone in the US government was actually OK with letting it fail – it's too useful," he told the Guardian.</p><p>"It sounds like something that could be very serious in a whole range of areas if it were to actually happen. It probably wouldn't damage many locative services applications now, but potentially it would retard their development and mainstreaming if it were to come to pass."</p><p>The failings of GPS could also play into the hands of other countries – including opening the door to Galileo, the European-funded attempt to rival America's satellite navigation system, which is scheduled to start rolling out later next year.</p><p>Russia, India and China have developed their own satellite navigation technologies that are currently being expanded.</p> </div> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper six-col" data-component="Article:below-article-embed email subscriptions - Daily:microapp email-subscriptions:Daily email subscription"> <div class="email-subscription-promo js-email-upsell b4"> <div class="email-subscription-promo__image"> <img class="js-email-upsell-image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/email-subscription/img/daily-email-uk.png" width="140" height="84" alt="Daily Email"/> </div> <span class="email-subscription-promo__close js-email-upsell-close"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/email-subscription/img/close.png" alt="close"> </span> <div class="email-subscription-promo__description"> <h4 class="email-subscription-promo__title js-email-upsell-title">Sign up for the Guardian Today</h4> <p class="email-subscription-promo__copy js-email-upsell-copy">Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.</p> <a class="email-subscription-promo__link js-email-upsell-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.guardian.co.uk/email/subscribe?emailListId=37" data-email-id="37">Sign up for the daily email</a> </div> </div> </span> </div> </div> <div id="related"> <ul id="article-toolbox-side" class="b4 trackable-component left" data-component="Article:RHS icon tools"> <li class="printable" data-link-name="icon-print"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/icon-print.png" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Print this</span></a></li> <li data-link-name="icon-share"><a class="rollover send-share" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/share/1217906" title="Opens a share this page in a new window"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/icon-share.png" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Share</span></a></li> <li data-link-name="icon-contact"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/contactus/1217906" class="rollover contact-link" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/icon-email-us.png" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="toolbox-popup trackable-component" id="send-email-box" data-component="Article:send email box"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Send to a friend</h3> <span class="js-show"><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-email"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/close-popup.png" alt="Close this popup" title="Close this popup"/></a></span> </div> <div> <form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis"> <fieldset> <div><label for="from">Sender's name</label></div> <input type="text" id="from" name="from" maxlength="50"/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div><label for="to">Recipient's email address</label></div> <input type="text" id="to" name="to" maxlength="50" value=""/> </fieldset> <div class="inputrow"> <input type="submit" class="share-this-tracking" data-link-name="Email" value="Send"/> </div> <p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup trackable-component" id="send-share-box" data-component="Article:share box"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Share</h3> <span class="js-show"><a class="close-toolbox" href="#send-share-box"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/close-popup.png" alt="Close this popup" title="Close this popup"/></a></span> </div> <div class="shortlink"> Short link for this page: <a rel="shortlink nofollow" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://gu.com/p/27nhh">http://gu.com/p/27nhh</a> </div> <ul class="share-this-tracking"> <li> <a data-link-name="Stumbleupon" name="lid={share}{stumbleupon}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27"> <span class="spr-16 stumbleupon"></span>StumbleUpon </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Reddit" name="lid={share}{reddit}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27"> <span class="spr-16 reddit"></span>reddit </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Tumblr" name="lid={share}{Tumblr}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.tumblr.com/share?v=3&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&t=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27" title="Share on Tumblr"> <span class="spr-16 tumblr"></span>Tumblr </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Digg" name="lid={share}{Digg}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27"> <span class="spr-16 digg"></span>Digg </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="LinkedIn" name="lid={share}{LinkedIn}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27&source=The%20Guardian"> <span class="spr-16 linkedin"></span>LinkedIn </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Google Bookmarks" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27"> <span class="spr-16 google-bookmarks"></span>Google Bookmarks </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="del.icio.us" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown&title=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27"> <span class="spr-16 delicious"></span>del.icio.us </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Livejournal" name="lid={share}{livejournal}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown"> <span class="spr-16 livejournal"></span>livejournal </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Facebook" name="lid={share}{Facebook}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2009%2Fmay%2F19%2Fgps-close-to-breakdown"> <span class="spr-16 facebook"></span>Facebook </a> </li> <li> <a data-link-name="Twitter" name="lid={share}{Twitter}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fgu.com%2Fp%2F27nhh%2Ftw"> <span class="spr-16 twitter"></span>Twitter </a> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact-link-box"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Contact us</h3> <span class="js-show"><a class="close-toolbox" href="#contact"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/close-popup.png" alt="Close this popup" title="Close this popup"/></a></span> </div> <div class="col first"> <ul> <li> Contact the Technology editor<br><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/mailto:tech@theguardian.com">tech@theguardian.com</a> </li> <li> Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/mailto:userhelp@theguardian.com">userhelp@theguardian.com</a> </li> <li> Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/mailto:letters@theguardian.com">letters@theguardian.com</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col"> <ul> <li> If you need help using the site: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/mailto:userhelp@theguardian.com">userhelp@theguardian.com</a> </li> <li> Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br/><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span> </li> <li> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/syndication/">License/buy our content</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="history b3 trackable-component" data-component="Article:article-history"> <a class="rollover history-link" href="#history-link-box" data-link-name="Article history">Article history</a> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="history-link-box"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>About this article</h3> <span class="js-show"><a class="close-toolbox" href="#history-link-box"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/close-popup.png" alt="Close this popup" title="Close this popup"/></a></span> </div> <div class="section"> <p><strong>GPS system 'close to breakdown'</strong></p> This article was published on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/">the Guardian website</a> at <time datetime="2009-05-19T19:00EDT" pubdate>05.32 EDT on Tuesday 19 May 2009</time>. It was last modified at <time datetime="2009-05-19T07:12EDT">07.12 EDT on Tuesday 19 May 2009</time>. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-keywords trackable-component" data-component="Article:related-keywords"> <h4 class="b4 t6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology">Technology</a></h4> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gps" rel="tag">GPS</a> · </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/mobilephones" rel="tag">Mobile phones</a> </li> </ul> <h4 class="b3 t6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science">Science</a></h4> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/space" rel="tag">Space</a> · </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/satellites" rel="tag">Satellites</a> </li> </ul> </div> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper two-col" data-component="Article:content-related related-information-vertical:microapp related-info-2:Related information vertical (2)"> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-related-information-2-vertical"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://related-info-hrd.appspot.com/static/related-information-1.3.min.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> </span> </div> <ul class="share-links col-8 b3 trackable-component" data-component="Article:bottom share tools"> <li class="full-line facebook"> <span class="facebook-share"> <a class="facebook-share-btn" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=180444840287&link=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown&display=popup&redirect_uri=http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/facebook-share/callback.html&show_error=false&ref=desktop" data-href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-link-name="Facebook Share"> <span class="facebook-share-icon"></span> <span class="facebook-share-label">Share</span> </a> </span> </li> <li class="full-line twitter" data-link-name="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://gu.com/p/27nhh/tw" data-via="guardian" data-counturl="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-related="guardiantech" data-text="GPS system 'close to breakdown'" data-count="none">Tweet this</a> </li> <li class="full-line google-plus" data-link-name="Google plus"> <div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-callback="trackGPlusBottom" data-annotation="none"></div> </li> <li class="full-line linked-in" data-link-name="LinkedIn"> <script type="IN/Share"></script> </li> <li class="full-line email" data-link-name="email this story"> <a class="rollover send-email" href="#" title="Send to a friend"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/images/icon-email.png" alt="" class="trail-icon"/>Email</a> </li> </ul> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper six-col" data-component="Article:promo-bottom-article Outbrain:microapp outbrains-component:Outbrains combined component"> <div class="outbrain-container"></div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper six-col" data-component="Article:promo-bottom-article 3rd ad slot (sc):Below fold ad slot"> <div id="Middle2" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Middle2"></div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper six-col" data-component="Article:promo-bottom-article Bottom article advertiserlinks:Advertiser links for article page"> <div id="advertiser-container"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'technology'; </script> <script> google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="eight-col edge component advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (true) { writeScript("https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js", false, function(){}); } // ]]> </script> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper eight-col" data-component="Article:content-comments D2 everywhere:microapp d2-appengine:getDiscussionForKey"> <a name="start-of-comments"></a> <div id="d2-root" class="hd" data-discussion-id="p/27nhh" data-commentpage="1"></div> <noscript> <h2 style="font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold">Comments</h2> <div style="padding: 10px; background: #ededed; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://discussion.theguardian.com/discussion/p/27nhh">Click here to join the discussion</a>.</p> <p>We can't load the discussion on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://theguardian.com/">theguardian.com</a> because you don't have <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.enable-javascript.com/">JavaScript enabled</a>.</p> </div> </noscript> <script> if (!!window.postMessage) { jQuery.getScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://discussion.theguardian.com/embed.js') } else { jQuery('#d2-root').removeClass('hd').html( '<h2 style="font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold">' + 'Comments</h2><div style="padding: 10px; background: #ededed; font-size' + ': 14px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><a ' + 'href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://discussion.theguardian.com/discussion/p/27nhh">' + 'Click here to join the discussion</a>.</p><p>We can\'t load the ' + 'discussion on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://theguardian.com">theguardian.com</a> ' + 'because your web browser does not support all the features that we ' + 'need. If you cannot upgrade your browser to a newer version, you can ' + 'access the discussion <a href="' + 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://discussion.theguardian.com/discussion/p/27nhh">' + 'here</a>.</div>' ); } </script> </span> </div> <div id="promo" class="var-a"> <div id="promo" class="four-col edge"> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:promo MPU:MPU advert"> <div id="Middle1" class="four-col hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Middle1"></div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:promo Today's video:List of trails from named trailblock"> <div class="promo-component list-of-trails"> <div class="hd"> <h3> Today's best video </h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <ul class="l1d"> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2013/sep/26/xbox-one-forza-motorsport-killer-instinct-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/audio/video/2013/9/26/1380191045355/Xbox-One-hands-on-event---021.jpg" width="280" height="168" alt="Xbox One hands-on event - video" class="video-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2013/sep/26/xbox-one-forza-motorsport-killer-instinct-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" class="link-text">Xbox One: hands-on preview event</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> Guardian readers were given a sneak preview of the forthcoming Xbox One console, due to hit shelves on 22 November </div> </li> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2013/sep/26/why-nothing-but-a-man-you-should-see-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/audio/video/2013/9/25/1380126249148/Xan-Brooks-009.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="Xan Brooks" class="video-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2013/sep/26/why-nothing-but-a-man-you-should-see-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" class="link-text">Why Nothing But a Man is the one film you should see this week</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> Xan Brooks explains why you must watch this film </div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2013/sep/26/why-nothing-but-a-man-you-should-see-video#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-open" short-url="-p-3j3m3" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </li> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2013/sep/26/bob-hawke-joke-americas-cup-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/26/1380174832870/Bob-Hawke-tells-a-joke-009.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="Bob Hawke tells a joke" class="video-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2013/sep/26/bob-hawke-joke-americas-cup-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" class="link-text">A Frenchman, an Englishman and an Aussie: Bob Hawke tells a joke</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke tells a joke to illustrate Australian irreverence </div> </li> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2013/sep/26/science-teaching-japan-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/audio/video/2013/9/24/1380017139765/Teaching-science-037.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="Teaching science" class="video-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2013/sep/26/science-teaching-japan-video" title="Video will start automatically on this page" class="link-text">How they are livening up science teaching in Japan</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> The Japanese government's creative approach to getting young people into science </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:promo Gigantic pixie bar:microapp gigantic-pixie-bar:Gigantic Pixie Bar component"> <div> <div class="component"> <div class="gigantic-pixie-bar with-section"> <div class="hd"> <h2>On the Guardian today</h2> </div> <ol> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/hornet-attacks-kill-18-china"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name world">World news</span><img alt="Hornet attacks kill dozens in China" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/26/1380182785001/Hornet-005.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="world">Hornet attacks kill dozens in China</h3> </a> </li><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/26/robocop-statue-detroit-kickstarter"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name film">Film</span><img alt="RoboCop statue to guard Detroit after successful Kickstarter campaign" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/26/1380194907699/robocop-006.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="film">RoboCop statue to guard Detroit after successful Kickstarter campaign</h3> </a> </li><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name global-development">Global development</span><img alt="Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves'" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/20/1379694291346/grieving-parents-Nepal-007.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="global-development">Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves'</h3> </a> </li><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/26/samuel-l-jackson-barack-obama"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name film">Film</span><img alt="Samuel L Jackson to president Barack Obama: 'Stop trying to relate'" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2011/10/14/1318589039291/Samuel-L-Jackson-007.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="film">Samuel L Jackson to president Barack Obama: 'Stop trying to relate'</h3> </a> </li><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/kenya-mall-attack-bodies"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name world">World news</span><img alt="Kenya mall attack: dozens more bodies believed buried under rubble" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2013/9/25/1380132139393/Westgate-shopping-mall-sh-008.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="world">Kenya mall attack: dozens more bodies believed buried under rubble</h3> </a> </li><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/26/afghan-interpreter-janis-shinwari-visa-revoked"> <div class="image-clip"><span class="section-name commentisfree">Comment is free</span><img alt="The US promised a visa to my Afghan interpreter. Now it's been revoked" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/9/25/1380131801044/matt_zeller_janis_shinwari.jpg" height="180" width="300"></div> <h3 class="commentisfree">The US promised a visa to my Afghan interpreter. Now it's been revoked</h3> </a> </li> </ol> </div> </div></div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:promo Sponsored features:Sponsored features"> <div class="promo-component json-features x31 four-col" style="display: none;"> <div class="hd"> <h3>Sponsored feature</h3> </div> <div class="bd inline-pic"> <a href="" class="link-image"><img width="130" height="121" alt=""/></a> <div id="x31" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-x31"></div> </div> <span class="x31-script-placeholder"></span> <script> function showSponsoredFeaturex31(){ if (window.sponJSON) { if(typeof(sponJSON) === 'object') { adx31 = sponJSON; var node = jQ('.json-features.x31'); convertJSONtoAd( node.find('img:first-child'), node.find('a.t6'), node.find('p:last-child'), adx31, node.find('.hd').children().eq(0), 'x31' ); } } } jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ('.x31-script-placeholder').writeCapture().replaceWith('<script>showSponsoredFeaturex31()<' + '/script>') }) </script> <a href="" class="t6"></a> <p></p> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:additional-promo Additional Promo:Additional promo"> <div id="Position4" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Position4"></div> </div> </span> <div id="promo" class="four-col edge"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="promo" class="var-b"> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="Article:promo-article-2012 Galleries:List of trails from named trailblock"> <div class="promo-component list-of-trails"> <div class="hd"> <h3> Today in pictures </h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <ul class="l1d"> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2012/dec/17/bbc-sports-personality-year-pictures" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/12/16/1355699281989/sports-peronality-2012-003.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="sports peronality 2012" class="gallery-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2012/dec/17/bbc-sports-personality-year-pictures" class="link-text">BBC Sports Personality of the Year – in pictures</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> Bradley Wiggins capped his remarkable sporting year by taking home the big prize at the ceremony in London </div> </li> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/dec/16/my-best-winter-shot" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/12/14/1355481875679/Martin-Parrs-M-Video-Chri-003.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="Martin Parr's M Video Christmas party photograph" class="gallery-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/dec/16/my-best-winter-shot" class="link-text">Dinner, dusk and dancing Russians: my best winter shot</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> A glass of wine with a rough sleeper, Santa in trunks, a thousand partying Muscovites … in a My Best Shot special, top photographers pick the image that sums up winter for them </div> </li> <li class="inline-pic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2012/dec/13/monkey-adopts-kitten-in-pictures" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/12/13/1355391391855/Kimon-a-long-tailed-monke-001.jpg" width="140" height="84" alt="Kimon, a long-tailed monkey grooms a kitten, whom, she treats as her baby, Bintan Island, Indonesia" class="gallery-mask"/> </a> <h4 class="t6"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2012/dec/13/monkey-adopts-kitten-in-pictures" class="link-text">Monkey adopts kitten – in pictures</a> </h4> <div class="trail-text"> Kimon, an eight-year-old pet female long-tailed monkey, treats a kitten as her baby in Bintan Island, Indonesia </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </span> </div> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper eight-col" data-component="Article:content-related-horizontal related-information-horizontal:microapp related-info-2:Related information horizontal (2)"> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-related-information-2-horizontal"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://related-info-hrd.appspot.com/static/related-information-1.3.min.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> </span> <div class="trackable-component crumb-wrapper global" data-component="Article:crumb nav" xmlns:v="http://rdf.data-vocabulary.org/#"> <ul class="crumb-nav"> <li id="crumb1"> <span> Key topics </span> </li> </ul> <ul class="local-nav"> <li class="first"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/apple" data-link-name="Apple">Apple</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/google" data-link-name="Google">Google</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/facebook" data-link-name="Facebook">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog" data-link-name="Games blog">Games blog</a> </li> <li class=" last"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/games+tone/reviews" data-link-name="Game reviews">Game reviews</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer-container"> <div id="footer" class="news footer b4"> <ul id="footer-links"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/" class="link-text">License/buy our content</a> </li> | <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy" class="link-text">Privacy policy</a> </li> | <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service" class="link-text">Terms of service</a> </li> | <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/advertising/guardian-america-advertising-info" class="link-text">US advertising</a> </li> | <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a" class="link-text">A - Z index</a> </li> | <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us" class="link-text">About us</a> </li> </ul> <ul id="copyright-links"> <li>© 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <script> require(['https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://s.ophan.co.uk/js/ophan.min.js', 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://s.ophan.co.uk/js/campaign.min.js'], function(ophan, campaign) { if (document.readyState === 'complete') { ophan.startLog(); } else { if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', ophan.startLog, false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', ophan.startLog); } } }); </script> <div class="yappy-message" id="yappy-message"> <span id="yappy-message-close" class="yappy-message-close">Close</span> <div class="yappy-guardian-message"> notifications (beta)</div> <div id="yappy-message-text"></div> <script> var yappy_identity_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://id.guardian.co.uk'; var yappy_url_root = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://guardian-notifier.appspot.com'; </script> </div> <script> jQ(function() { jQ('#article-wrapper .factbox-container .factbox').each(function() { var node = jQ(this), className = node.attr('class'); node.attr('data-component', 'comp: r2: ' + className).addClass('trackable-component'); }); }); </script> <ul class="component trackable-component undocked-share share-links" data-component="Article:floating share tools"> <li class="full-line facebook" data-link-name="facebook"> <span class="facebook-share"> <a class="facebook-share-btn" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=180444840287&link=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown& display=popup&redirect_uri=http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/facebook-share/callback.html&show_error=false&ref=desktop" data-href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-link-name="Facebook Share"> <span class="facebook-share-icon"></span> <span class="facebook-share-label">Share</span> </a> </span> </li> <li class="full-line tweet"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://gu.com/p/27nhh/tw" data-via="guardian" data-count="vertical" data-counturl="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown" data-related="guardiantech" data-text="GPS system 'close to breakdown'">Tweet this</a> </li> <li class="full-line google-plus" data-link-name="Google plus"> <div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-callback="trackGPlusFloating"></div> </li> <li id="undocked-share-linked-in" class="full-line linked-in" data-link-name="LinkedIn"> <script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top" data-showzero="true"></script> </li> </ul> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/survey/foresee/foresee-trigger.js"></script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-signin-top-nav"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.signin-top-nav.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-signin-overlay"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.overlay.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-facebook-banner"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.facebookbanner.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-cookie-notification"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.site-notification.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-identity-location"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.location.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-alert-signup"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://guardian-notifications.appspot.com/static/js/user-notifications.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> <script async defer> jQ(function() { if(jQ.support.cors && !(typeof(window.getSelection) === 'undefined')) { jQ(window).on("copy", function() { jQ.post("https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://gu-text-catcher.appspot.com/capture", {selection: window.getSelection().toString(), path: window.location.pathname}); }); } }); </script> <div class="initially-off ma-placeholder-identity-cookie-refresh"></div> <script> jQ(document).ready(function(){ jQ.ajax({ url : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://id.guim.co.uk/static/14/cs/js/guardian.r2.identity.refresh.js', dataType : 'script', type : 'get', crossDomain : true, cache: true }); }); </script> </div> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10822091.js"></script> <script id="omnitureGeneratorScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(true) { var s_account="guardiangu-network"; writeScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/scripts/omniture-H.25.5.js', false, function(){}); } //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.optimizely = window.optimizely || []; window.optimizely.push("sc_activate"); if (window.optimizely.activeExperiments && window.optimizely.activeExperiments.length > 0) { s.events = s.events ? s.events + ",event58" : "event58"; } </script> <script id="omnitureScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(true) { if (false) { s.pageName = document.title; } else { s.pageName = "News:Technology:GPS:Article:gps-close-to-breakdown:1217906"; } s.channel = "Technology"; s.server = "102529237"; var userId = "(none)"; if(userId != "(none)") { s.prop2 = "GUID:" + userId; } s.prop3 = "GU.co.uk"; s.prop4 = "GPS (Technology),Technology,Science,Space (Science),Mobile phones (Technology),Satellites (science)"; s.prop5 = "Unclassified,Not commercially useful,Technology Gadgets"; s.prop6 = "Bobbie Johnson"; s.prop7 = "2009/05/19 10:32"; s.prop8 = "1217906"; s.prop9 = "Article"; s.prop10 = ""; s.prop13 = ""; s.prop19 = "GUS"; s.prop47 = "US"; s.prop64 = "UK"; s.prop65 = "GPS system 'close to breakdown'"; s.prop66 = "News"; s.prop67 = "nextgen-compatible"; s.prop72 = "News:Technology:GPS"; s.prop73 = "News:Technology:GPS"; s.prop74 = "News:Technology"; s.prop75 = "News"; guardian.r2.OmnitureTracking.setAdditionalPageProperties({ isContentPage: true, contentType: "Article", published: "2009/05/19 10:32" }); // Track that comments are enabled s.events = s.events ? s.events + ",event46" : "event46"; // Apply any additional props set by the page before s_code has loaded guardian.r2.OmnitureTracking.applyProperties(); s.eVar23=""; try { if (guardian.r2.OmnitureTrackingOverride) { new guardian.r2.OmnitureTrackingOverride(s); } } catch(err) { } var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); } //]]> </script> <noscript id="omnitureNoScript"> <div><img alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://hits.theguardian.com/b/ss/guardiangu-network/1/H.25.5/43309?ns=guardian&pageName=News%3ATechnology%3AGPS%3AArticle%3Agps-close-to-breakdown%3A1217906&ch=Technology&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=GPS+%28Technology%29%2CTechnology%2CScience%2CSpace+%28Science%29%2CMobile+phones+%28Technology%29%2CSatellites+%28science%29&c5=Unclassified%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CTechnology+Gadgets&c6=Bobbie+Johnson&c7=2009%2F05%2F19+10%3A32&c8=1217906&c9=Article&c10=&c13=&c19=GUS&c47=US&c64=UK&c65=GPS+system+%27close+to+breakdown%27&c66=News&c67=nextgen-compatible&c72=News%3ATechnology%3AGPS&c73=News%3ATechnology%3AGPS&c74=News%3ATechnology&c75=News&h2=GU%2FNews%2FTechnology%2FGPS&c2=GUID:(none)" width="1" height="1"/></div> </noscript> <script> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); _qevents.push( { qacct:'p-73ktnlRTKQPTw', labels: 'technology'} ); </script> <noscript><div style="display: none;"><img src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-73ktnlRTKQPTw.gif?labels=technology" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></div></noscript> <script> var qcResults = function (result) { var justTheParameters = ''; for (var i = 0, len = result.segments.length; i < len; i++) { OAS_query += 'qc=' + result.segments[i].id + '&'; justTheParameters += 'qc=' + result.segments[i].id + '&'; } try { localStorage.setItem('qcparams', justTheParameters); } catch(er) { // Ignore } } </script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833js_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/api/segments.json?a=p-73ktnlRTKQPTw&callback=qcResults"></script> ; <script id="componentTrackingScript" type="text/javascript"> if (true && true) { guardian.r2.OmnitureTracking.enableComponentTracking(); } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (true) { // guardian.co.uk Connect Adprobe Tag, MPU [9814], Leaderboard [9815] var wlOrd = new Date().getTime(); document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://req.connect.wunderloop.net/AP/1566/6032/10341/js?cus=10341,10342&ord=' + wlOrd + '"></sc' + 'ript>'); } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (true) { OAS_query += 'wl10341=' + wl10341camp + '&wl10342=' + wl10342camp + '&'; } // ]]> </script> <script> if(true) { ensurePackage("guardian.r2.revsci"); guardian.r2.revsci.revSciLocalStorage = true; guardian.r2.revsci.siteName = 'Technology'; guardian.r2.revsci.commercialFolder = 'Technology+Gadgets' addEvent(null, 'load', function () { writeScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=E05516', true, function() { writeScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/51d4fbda9694dd71f73f7fd8d8e9e73cf43f491f/common/scripts/revsci.js', true, function() { rs_initTracking(); }); }) }); } </script> <script> function OAS_NORMAL(pos) { document.write('<A HREF="' + OAS_url + 'click_nx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + pos + '!' + pos + '?' + OAS_query + '" TARGET=' + OAS_target + '>'); document.write('<IMG SRC="' + OAS_url + 'adstream_nx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + pos + '!' + pos + '?' + OAS_query + '" BORDER=0></A>'); } OAS_version = 11; if ((navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/3') != -1) || (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/4.0 WebTV') != -1)) OAS_version = 10; if (true) { if (OAS_version >= 11) document.write('<scr' + 'ipt src="' + OAS_url + 'adstream_mjx.ads/' + OAS_sitepage + '/1' + OAS_rns + '@' + OAS_listpos + '?' + OAS_query + '"><\/script>'); } function OAS_AD(pos) { if (true) { if (typeof(OAS_RICH) !== 'undefined' && OAS_version >= 11) { OAS_RICH(pos); } else { OAS_NORMAL(pos); } } } </script>  <div id="ad-temp-Top"> <script> //<![CDATA[ insertAsyncAd('#ad-placeholder-Top', '<script>OAS_AD("Top")<' + '/script>'); //]]> </script> </div> <script> jQ('#ad-temp-Top').hide(); </script> <div id="ad-temp-Middle2"> <script> //<![CDATA[ insertAsyncAd('#ad-placeholder-Middle2', '<script>OAS_AD("Middle2")<' + '/script>'); //]]> </script> </div> <script> jQ('#ad-temp-Middle2').hide(); </script> <div id="ad-temp-Middle1"> <script> //<![CDATA[ insertAsyncAd('#ad-placeholder-Middle1', '<script>OAS_AD("Middle1")<' + '/script>'); //]]> </script> </div> <script> jQ('#ad-temp-Middle1').hide(); </script> <div id="ad-temp-x31"> <script> //<![CDATA[ insertAsyncAd('#ad-placeholder-x31', '<script>OAS_AD("x31")<' + '/script>'); //]]> </script> </div> <script> jQ('#ad-temp-x31').hide(); </script> <div id="ad-temp-Position4"> <script> //<![CDATA[ insertAsyncAd('#ad-placeholder-Position4', '<script>OAS_AD("Position4")<' + '/script>'); //]]> </script> </div> <script> jQ('#ad-temp-Position4').hide(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { // Load OutBrain code var ob = document.createElement('script'); ob.type = 'text/javascript'; ob.async = true; ob.src = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ob, s); })(); </script>   <span id="n-analytics-placeholder"></span> <script type="text/javascript"> if (true) { jQ(document).ready( function(){ var script = "<scr" + "ipt type='text/javascript' src='//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v60.js'><" + "/script>"; script += "\n<sc" + "ript type='text/javascript'" + ">"; script += "\nvar pvar = { cid: 'uk-305078h', content: '0', server: 'secure-uk' };"; script += "\nvar feat = { landing_page: 0 };"; script += "\nvar trac = nol_t(pvar, feat);"; script += "\ntrac.record().post();"; script += "\n<" + "/script>"; jQ("#n-analytics-placeholder").writeCapture().replaceWith(script); } ); } </script> <noscript> <div> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20130926155833im_/http://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=uk-305078h&cg=0&cc=1&ts=noscript" width="1" height="1" alt=""/> </div> </noscript>  <script type="text/javascript"> if (true) { var _sf_async_config = {}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 30676; _sf_async_config.domain = document.domain; _sf_async_config.sections = 'Technology,Article (Content type),GPS (Technology),Technology,Science,Space (Science),Mobile phones (Technology),Satellites (science),Article'; _sf_async_config.authors = 'Bobbie Johnson'; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function() { function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt = (new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130926155833/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); } </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

GPS system 'close to breakdown' | Technology | theguardian.com