Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS - GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM | VERIFIED EXAM
SOLUTIONS - COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -
CURRENT VERSION 2026/2027
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
Page 1
, Global Positioning System (GPS)
1. GPS is the abbreviation for which of the following?
A. Global Positioning Satellite
B. General Position Signal
C. Global Positioning System
D. Geographic Path System
ANSWER : C. Global Positioning System
Explanation: GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The other options
are invented variations and are not the official name of the system.
2. Which organisation originally developed the Global Positioning
System?
A. The United States Department of Defense
B. The European Space Agency
C. The International Telecommunication Union
D. The Russian Federal Space Agency
ANSWER : A. The United States Department of Defense
Explanation: GPS (NAVSTAR) was developed by the US Department of
Defense. ESA runs Galileo, Russia runs GLONASS, and the ITU only
coordinates radio spectrum.
3. GPS is presently operated by which US organisation?
A. NASA
B. The Federal Aviation Administration
C. The National Weather Service
D. The United States Space Force
ANSWER : D. The United States Space Force
Explanation: Operation of the GPS constellation belongs to the US Space
Force. NASA does research, the FAA regulates aviation use, and the
Weather Service has no role in running the system.
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, Global Positioning System (GPS)
4. Which earlier satellite navigation system, used by the US Navy,
preceded GPS?
A. Loran-C
B. Transit
C. Omega
D. Decca
ANSWER : B. Transit
Explanation: Transit was the first satellite navigation system. Loran-C,
Omega and Decca were ground-based radio navigation systems, not
satellite systems.
5. In which year was the first NAVSTAR GPS satellite launched?
A. 1978
B. 1969
C. 1985
D. 1995
ANSWER : A. 1978
Explanation: The first Block I satellite went up in 1978. 1995 is the year
full operational capability was declared, so it is often confused with the
first launch.
6. Full Operational Capability (FOC) of GPS was declared in which year?
A. 1978
B. 1983
C. 1995
D. 2000
ANSWER : C. 1995
Explanation: FOC was declared in April 1995 once the 24-satellite
constellation was complete. 1978 was the first launch and 2000 is when
Selective Availability was switched off.
7. The 1983 shooting down of a civilian airliner led to which policy
decision about GPS?
A. GPS was shut down permanently
B. GPS was made available for civilian use
C. GPS was transferred to the United Nations
D. GPS was restricted to military use only
ANSWER : B. GPS was made available for civilian use
Explanation: After Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was lost, the US announced
GPS would be offered to civilians once operational. The other options are
the opposite of what happened.
Page 3
, Global Positioning System (GPS)
8. Selective Availability (SA) was turned off in which year?
A. 1995
B. 1983
C. 2005
D. 2000
ANSWER : D. 2000
Explanation: SA was discontinued on 2 May 2000, which improved civilian
accuracy from about 100 m to roughly 10 m or better. The other dates do
not match this event.
9. Who is widely regarded as the father of GPS?
A. Neil Armstrong
B. Albert Einstein
C. Bradford Parkinson
D. Alan Turing
ANSWER : C. Bradford Parkinson
Explanation: Colonel Bradford Parkinson led the original GPS joint
programme office. The other names are famous but are not associated
with GPS development.
10. Which mathematical principle does GPS use to fix a position?
A. Trilateration using distances to known points
B. Triangulation using measured angles
C. Dead reckoning using speed only
D. Interpolation using contour lines
ANSWER : A. Trilateration using distances to known points
Explanation: GPS measures distances to satellites and finds where the
spheres intersect, which is trilateration. Triangulation depends on angles,
which GPS receivers do not measure.
11. How does trilateration differ from triangulation?
A. Trilateration uses angles while triangulation uses distances
B. Both use only angles
C. Both use only time zones
D. Trilateration uses distances while triangulation uses angles
ANSWER : D. Trilateration uses distances while triangulation uses
angles
Explanation: Trilateration solves position from distances and triangulation
from angles. The reversed statement is wrong, and neither method relies
on time zones.
Page 4
GPS - GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM | VERIFIED EXAM
SOLUTIONS - COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -
CURRENT VERSION 2026/2027
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
Page 1
, Global Positioning System (GPS)
1. GPS is the abbreviation for which of the following?
A. Global Positioning Satellite
B. General Position Signal
C. Global Positioning System
D. Geographic Path System
ANSWER : C. Global Positioning System
Explanation: GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The other options
are invented variations and are not the official name of the system.
2. Which organisation originally developed the Global Positioning
System?
A. The United States Department of Defense
B. The European Space Agency
C. The International Telecommunication Union
D. The Russian Federal Space Agency
ANSWER : A. The United States Department of Defense
Explanation: GPS (NAVSTAR) was developed by the US Department of
Defense. ESA runs Galileo, Russia runs GLONASS, and the ITU only
coordinates radio spectrum.
3. GPS is presently operated by which US organisation?
A. NASA
B. The Federal Aviation Administration
C. The National Weather Service
D. The United States Space Force
ANSWER : D. The United States Space Force
Explanation: Operation of the GPS constellation belongs to the US Space
Force. NASA does research, the FAA regulates aviation use, and the
Weather Service has no role in running the system.
Page 2
, Global Positioning System (GPS)
4. Which earlier satellite navigation system, used by the US Navy,
preceded GPS?
A. Loran-C
B. Transit
C. Omega
D. Decca
ANSWER : B. Transit
Explanation: Transit was the first satellite navigation system. Loran-C,
Omega and Decca were ground-based radio navigation systems, not
satellite systems.
5. In which year was the first NAVSTAR GPS satellite launched?
A. 1978
B. 1969
C. 1985
D. 1995
ANSWER : A. 1978
Explanation: The first Block I satellite went up in 1978. 1995 is the year
full operational capability was declared, so it is often confused with the
first launch.
6. Full Operational Capability (FOC) of GPS was declared in which year?
A. 1978
B. 1983
C. 1995
D. 2000
ANSWER : C. 1995
Explanation: FOC was declared in April 1995 once the 24-satellite
constellation was complete. 1978 was the first launch and 2000 is when
Selective Availability was switched off.
7. The 1983 shooting down of a civilian airliner led to which policy
decision about GPS?
A. GPS was shut down permanently
B. GPS was made available for civilian use
C. GPS was transferred to the United Nations
D. GPS was restricted to military use only
ANSWER : B. GPS was made available for civilian use
Explanation: After Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was lost, the US announced
GPS would be offered to civilians once operational. The other options are
the opposite of what happened.
Page 3
, Global Positioning System (GPS)
8. Selective Availability (SA) was turned off in which year?
A. 1995
B. 1983
C. 2005
D. 2000
ANSWER : D. 2000
Explanation: SA was discontinued on 2 May 2000, which improved civilian
accuracy from about 100 m to roughly 10 m or better. The other dates do
not match this event.
9. Who is widely regarded as the father of GPS?
A. Neil Armstrong
B. Albert Einstein
C. Bradford Parkinson
D. Alan Turing
ANSWER : C. Bradford Parkinson
Explanation: Colonel Bradford Parkinson led the original GPS joint
programme office. The other names are famous but are not associated
with GPS development.
10. Which mathematical principle does GPS use to fix a position?
A. Trilateration using distances to known points
B. Triangulation using measured angles
C. Dead reckoning using speed only
D. Interpolation using contour lines
ANSWER : A. Trilateration using distances to known points
Explanation: GPS measures distances to satellites and finds where the
spheres intersect, which is trilateration. Triangulation depends on angles,
which GPS receivers do not measure.
11. How does trilateration differ from triangulation?
A. Trilateration uses angles while triangulation uses distances
B. Both use only angles
C. Both use only time zones
D. Trilateration uses distances while triangulation uses angles
ANSWER : D. Trilateration uses distances while triangulation uses
angles
Explanation: Trilateration solves position from distances and triangulation
from angles. The reversed statement is wrong, and neither method relies
on time zones.
Page 4
