The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an extremely accurate navigational tool created by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD uses this system of 24 orbiting satellites, officially called NAVSTAR GPS (NAVigation Satellite Timing and Ranging Global Positioning System), to obtain accurate information for missile calculations and tracking vehicles as well as other applications.

GPS technology can be used in a variety of fields by providing navigational information for ships at sea, planes in the air, and vehicles on the ground. Applications of GPS technology include keeping track of the location and speed of a fleet of trucks, trains, ships, or planes; directing emergency vehicles to the scene of an accident; and providing

precise timing for endeavors that require large-scale coordination.