30 Years of GPS

Feb. 28, 2008

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The first Global Positioning Satellite signal from space occurred on Feb. 22, 1978, writes Col. David Madden, GPS Wing Commander at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., in a Feb. 22 statement. Madden notes that the GPS Block 1 satellites, launched between 1978 and Oct. 9, 1985 “paved the way for an operational system that has revolutionized the way we go to war.”

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force

Space Force Accepting Applications for Interservice Transfers Until Oct. 2

More Fighters Deploy to Middle East Amid Readiness Concerns

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Related

Pentagon Picks 2 Companies for Reconnaissance Satellite Demo

Sept. 18, 2026
The Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have chosen two firms to demonstrate the ability of small satellites built with low-cost, commercial technology to track both friendly and adversary satellites in geosynchronous orbit. 

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Sept. 17, 2026
When Space Force leaders started talking about expanding the service early this year, the idea was simple: double the size of the force in the next five years. At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, officials detailed just how they’re planning to grow so much so quickly.