Question: if internet gps could go down because of a solar flare, wha would we switch to instead?

Paige Brown answered on 29 Jun 2012:

Good question!

We could always go back to tried and true methods of finding location, like printed maps or even star tracking! Sailors in the old days, at sea, could know exactly where they were by following the stars, which make unique patterns in different areas of the sky depending on your location!

But the Air Force is actually looking for alternatives to GPS, for this exact reason! the Air Force looks at replacements to guard against the Pentagon’s over-reliance on GPS satellites. LORAN-C, a permanent ground station network, is currently the only functioning alternative to GPS.

“The Air Force is now researching ways to install navigation equipment closer to Earth than orbiting satellites. Aircraft, blimps and temporary ground stations can be used to provide navigation beacons. Researchers call these “pseudolites” for psuedo satellites. The Air Force is also looking at new technology to serve as a backup, including inertial navigation systems that have sensors that track movement and use that data to plot a position. When combined with laser radar, which flickers across the terrain to recognize familiar landmarks, these systems can guide aircraft or missiles to the right place. Unmanned aerial vehicles have inertial navigation backup systems in case they lose contact with ground controllers.”

Read more: War without GPS – Air Force Alternatives to GPS – Popular Mechanics

Read more: War without GPS – Air Force Alternatives to GPS – Popular Mechanics