Civilians who navigate using the Global Positioning System (GPS) will benefit from a tenfold improvement in accuracy within a decade.
The next generation of GPS satellites will broadcast two additional signals. Since the atmosphere distorts different frequencies in different ways, a receiver can compare multiple signals and correct for the distortion.
The first of the extra signals will be at a frequency now used for military GPSwhich will ease fears that it might interfere with other satellite systems (This Week, 1 February 1997, p 5). The frequency of the second signal will be chosen in August.
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