Application of GPS navigation to space flight

The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) initiated GPS navigation projects for the space shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) and the X-38 (prototype crew return vehicle, or CRV) in the 1990s. While application of GPS technology to the shuttle and the ISS was successful, far more technical difficulties were encountered than were originally anticipated, and many lessons were learned. GPS receivers should be treated as computers, rather than as "plug and play" devices. A close relationship with the GPS vendor, open communication among team members, receiver design insight and thorough ground and flight-testing are keys to successful application of GPS to spaceflight