{"id":1214,"date":"2026-06-13T10:17:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T10:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-sciencefocus\/?p=1214"},"modified":"2026-06-13T10:17:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T10:17:46","slug":"why-us-taxpayers-pay-2bn-a-year-so-the-world-gets-free-gps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-sciencefocus\/2026\/06\/13\/why-us-taxpayers-pay-2bn-a-year-so-the-world-gets-free-gps\/","title":{"rendered":"Why US taxpayers pay $2bn a year so the world gets free GPS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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TECH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why US taxpayers pay $2bn a year so the world gets free GPS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

From guiding nuclear missiles to staying ahead of China and Russia, here’s the real reason Washington keeps footing the bill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Michael Day<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"GPS
Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

GPS is, quite simply, one of the most heavily used technologies on the planet. Every time you tap your phone for directions, share your location with a friend, track a run or order a takeaway, there’s a good chance you’re relying on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what many people don’t realise is how this system is funded. Or, more precisely, who<\/em> funds it. You see, American taxpayers spend an estimated $2bn each year<\/em> to maintain a network of satellites that provides free navigation services to much of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why does the US keep footing the bill? The answer involves Cold War missile programmes, rival satellite networks built by China and Russia, and a new generation of quantum technologies that could eventually replace GPS altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how does GPS actually work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Okay. Let’s start from the beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Global Positioning System is, at heart, a fleet of at least 24 satellites operated by the US Space Force. Orbiting around 20,000km (12,000mi) above Earth, each one continuously broadcasts the same two pieces of information: where it is, and the exact time the signal was sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your phone, sat-nav or running watch works by simply listening in to these signals. By measuring how far away several satellites are at the same time, your device finds the only point on Earth that matches all those distances at once \u2013 a process called trilateration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n