But in this case, the two were being worked on literally at the same time. NRL flew the experimental precursors to GPS in the late 1960s and early 1970s. NTS-4,

But in this case, the two were being worked on literally at the same time. NRL flew the experimental precursors to GPS in the late 1960s and early 1970s. NTS-4, the first operation GPS satellite, launched in 1974. In NRL's case, the challenge would have been that the engineers were in different divisions. Radar ranging of the moon was done by Space Sciences, and Transit and Timation were done by Spacecraft Engineering.