An image of the Global Positioning System III satellite built by Lockheed Martin. [Image: Lockheed Martin]

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warns the constellation of space-based GPS satellites—the heart and soul of the Global Positioning System—could be in danger of failing. The U.S. Air Force, which is responsible for GPS operations and maintenance, “has struggled to successfully build [new] GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals,” says the GAO report. Among its conclusions, the GAO warns:

"...as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to. Such a gap in capability could have wide-ranging impacts on all GPS users, though there are measures the Air Force and others can take..."

Only 24 of the 31 GPS satellites are needed to fulfill commercial (civilian) and military navigation needs. But could seven satellites failing before the Air Force can launch new, improved GPS satellites? And given the $1.5 billion cost of the GPS III satellite launch program, Nicholas Thompson over at Wired has an intriguing proposition: Tax GPS to Save GPS.

Sound off: What do you think? Would some sort of global GPS tax be helpful? (Consider that anyone in the world can freely use GPS, a system developed, funded and maintained solely by the U.S. government—and U.S. taxpayers.)

Or would it be harmful? Feel free to use the comment section below! —Paul Eng