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I'm curious to know if this GPS example has any significant dependencies on prior technologies/physics that was only possible after Einstein discovered general
by frankish 6y ago
I'm curious to know if this GPS example has any significant dependencies on prior technologies/physics that was only possible after Einstein discovered general relativity. I don't know enough physics or history to know how much would be different, but can anyone weigh in on if GPS satellites would still be possible?
- detaro 6y agoYou don't need relativity to design something like GPS for a universe where it doesn't exist, so the idea of GPS still makes sense. Presumably we'd have noticed that this clock discrepancy happens at some point when trying to sync clocks in orbit, probably chased a bunch of odd paths trying to figure out why it happens, but in the end found some model to correct the error.
- thecabinet 6y agoThe story I’ve heard was that GPS was invented due to Sputnik. The Doppler shift in its beeps proved its speed and thus its orbit. Somebody (in the Navy?) wondered if the “reverse” could be done: could you listen to various shifting beeps and figure out your location?