Soon, a positioning system for the entire solar system

London, September 2 : A former NASA consultant has suggested the development of a Solar System Positioning System (SSPS), which involves the placement of satellite-like base stations on various moons and asteroids around the solar system, to provide an accurate location-fix for future spacecrafts.

The most accurate way of navigating on Earth is to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) - a receiver reads the signals broadcast by at least three orbiting satellites and calculates its position to within a few meters on Earth.

Now, according to a report in New Scientist, Arthur Dula, a space lawyer and former NASA consultant, wants to make a similar version for the whole solar system.

He suggests placing satellite-like base stations on various moons and asteroids around the solar system.

As long as the orbits of these bodies are well known, any a passing spacecraft can send a signal to several base stations and receive positioning signals in return.

This would allow the craft to fix its location within the Solar System.

ANI