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670531-N-NO204-0001.JPG Photo By: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

WASHINGTON - Timation I (rectangular object in center of photo) was successfully tested in a "piggyback"launch aboard an Air Force Thor -Agena D rocket. It was launched May 31, 1967 into a 500 nautical mile polar orbit. NRL's TIMATION program was the progenitor of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS), a revolutionary navigation system. NRL conceived of TIMATION as a way to provide accurate position and time data to terrestrial navigators by measuring the time it takes a signal to travel from a satellite to a navigator,using synchronized clocks This time navigation concept was first demonstrated with the TIMATION I satellite equipped with high-precision quartz oscillators. Position accuracy in TIMATION I demonstrations with moving boats,land vehicles, and airplanes was on the order of 1/3 nautical mile. NRL followed TIMATION I with TIMATION II (1969),TIMATION III(NTS-1, 1974), and finally TIMATION IV, or NTS-2(1977), the first demonstration satellite for NAVSTAR GPS. Launch DAte: May 31, 1967 Launch Vehicle:Thor Agena Satellite Size: 85 lbs Full Name: TIMe/navigATION satellite Purpose: Demonstrate satellite-based time navigation concept US Navy Photo/Released/RN: 08-1226-3793


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This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit.



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