GPS Deathwatch: I may never get to work again

Skip the cute talking points. GPS might FAIL in 2010, and that's dangerous for me because my sense of direction does not exist ! READ !

The Global Positioning System faces the possibility of failures and blackouts, a federal watchdog agency has warned the U.S. Congress. Mismanagement by and underinvestment by the U.S. Air Force places the GPS at risk of failure in 2010 and beyond. The problem: Delays in launching replacement satellites, among other things.

According to the Government Accountability Office report, "In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals" as part of a $2 billion modernization program.

"If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites, there will be an increased likelihood that in 2010, as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to."

Considered by the GAO to be "essential to national security" the GPS is also widely used by business and consumers and is a driver for next-generation location-based mobile applications used with smartphones and other devices.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! .....Before my GPS I was constantly printing out Map Quest maps... and still got lost. I CAN'T READ A MAP ! This can't be happening ! Fix it ! Fix it now ! I am NOT overreacting! I live in Chicago, I commute via car. Traffic REALLY sucks and knowing I can always pull off the express way and take the streets without worry keeps me from having a stress related heart attack! Ahhh.. I'm annoyed, stressed out, scared and hungry at the thought of this being right. I pray this is just some bad internet hoax like Y2K or The Spectacular Dance Challenge video.

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