Manpack Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver
date: label: date made
content: 1988-1993
name: label: user
content: U.S. Department of Defense
label: maker
content: Collins Avionics & Communications Division of Rockwell International
notes: label: Description
content: The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of NAVSTAR satellites in earth orbit that send signals to receivers on land, sea, or in the air. The system became operational in 1978. Its military usefulness was demonstrated during Operation Desert Storm (1991), when coalition troops with receivers were able to navigate quickly and with great precision in the relatively featureless desert, thus having a significant tactical advantage over Iraqi forces. Collins Defense Communications, a subsidiary of Rockwell International, developed this GPS receiver (AN/PSN-8) for the U.S. military and delivered 1,400 units to the Department of Defense between 1988 and 1993. Although termed the "Manpack," it weighed 17 pounds and thus was often strapped to a truck or a helicopter. Each unit cost $45,000.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Iowa, Cedar Rapids
topic: label: related event
content: Operation Desert Storm
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
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content: Military
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content: Time and Navigation
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content: Measuring & Mapping
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Collins Avionics & Communications Division
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1997.0006.01
label: catalog number
content: 1997.0006.01
label: accession number
content: 1997.0006
objectType: label: Object Name
content: gps receiver
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 40 cm x 38 cm x 14 cm; 15 3/4 in x 14 15/16 in x 5 1/2 in