How GPS Finally Became Available for Civilian Use After Horrific Death of 269

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Last Updated:October 03, 2023, 11:38 IST

Did you know GPS availability to public came after 269 people lost their lives? Here's the detail account of what led to its emergence.

How GPS Finally Became Available for Civilian Use After Horrific Death of 269 (Photo Credits: X/@AlecStapp/iStock)

Imagine a time when a miraculous device existed, capable of instantly pinpointing your location on Earth and effortlessly guiding you to any remote destination you desired. This magical device, once considered fantasy, is now a tangible reality we all know as GPS, or ‘Global Positioning System.’ While today’s generation might take it for granted, it’s worth pondering that this remarkable innovation came into being after a significant turning point involving 269 lives. A recent social media post by an ‘X’ user ignited curiosity and led us to revisit the fascinating story behind the accessibility of GPS for civilians.

A snapshot shared from a written account that narrates the same story unveils the origins of GPS. Initially, this satellite-based system was exclusively intended for the U.S. military since they were the creators and launchers of the satellites. Moreover, they harbored concerns that granting public access might potentially jeopardise U.S. military operations, given that this system was originally designed to aid missiles in locating their targets.

Historical accounts and available articles shed light on this transformation. Initially, the military had no intention of opening up the system to civilians. However, a pivotal incident occurred in 1983 when a Soviet SU-15 fighter jet shot down a Korean passenger plane, resulting in the tragic loss of all 269 lives on board.

The Korean Air Lines flight 007 had deviated from its intended route from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seoul, straying over 200 miles from its scheduled path into Soviet-prohibited airspace. Soviet authorities alleged that the plane was on an espionage mission for the United States, although there was no evidence to support this claim. In response, the Soviet plane fired two air-to-air missiles, destroying the aircraft, which crashed into the Sea of Japan approximately 30 miles from Sakhalin Island.

The realisation that a worldwide GPS could have prevented this tragedy, as well as potentially prevented similar incidents in the future, prompted President Ronald Reagan to make a significant decision. On September 16, 1983, he made the bold choice to open the GPS to the public, marking a significant turning point in its history.

However, there was a catch: The civilian version of GPS deliberately introduced a degree of inaccuracy, limiting its precision to a radius of about 100 meters.

Finally, in the year 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a bill discontinuing this intentional degradation of accuracy, as it had become outdated. This move resulted in a free and precise GPS that paved the way for numerous innovations, most notably the development of modern smartphones and their mapping applications.