The Pioneers Behind GPS: America's Spirit of Discovery

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we celebrate the individuals whose curiosity, courage and pioneering spirit helped shape our nation's story.

That spirit of discovery began long before America's founding. Explorers like Amerigo Vespucci expanded humanity's understanding of the world, while generations of navigators, scientists and innovators pushed boundaries, crossing oceans, charting stars and exploring new frontiers.

Their efforts advanced a timeless pursuit: understanding where we are and how we find our way.

Today, that same pursuit lives on 12,550 miles above Earth through the Global Positioning System (GPS), a technology that has become the backbone of modern America, powering transportation, agriculture, emergency response and national security.

To honor those who helped advance exploration, navigation and discovery, each GPS III satellite was named after a historic trailblazer.

5) Neil Armstrong: First person to walk on the moon.

7) Sally Ride: First American woman in space.

8) Katherine Johnson: Mathematician whose calculations helped enable human spaceflight.

9) Ellison Onizuka: First Asian American astronaut.

Navigating Forward

Earlier this year, the GPS III series culminated with the launch of Space Vehicle 10, named for Hedy Lamarr.

But the story of GPS is far from complete.

As Lockheed Martin advances GPS IIIF, the next generation of satellites will deliver enhanced capabilities to meet the demands of the future while honoring a new group of visionaries whose contributions advanced exploration, navigation, positioning and timing.

From the explorers who mapped the world to the innovators whose ideas help guide more than 6 billion users today, GPS reflects an enduring truth: Every generation stands on the shoulders of visionaries who help us find our way forward.