Space satnav

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 metres on Earth.



Arthur Dula, a space lawyer and former NASA consultant, wants to make a similar version for the whole solar system. A SSPS, if you will.

He suggests placing satellite-like base stations on various moons and asteroids around the solar system (see image, right). 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.

Read the full solar system positioning system patent application.