Co-creator of the Global Positioning System (GPS), a network of satellites providing location information and precise timing, revolutionizing navigation and countless industries.
Roger L. Easton, a physicist and state representative, is renowned for his pioneering work in developing the Global Positioning System (GPS). Alongside Ivan A. Getting and Bradford Parkinson, Easton played a pivotal role in designing and inventing the GPS technology that has revolutionized navigation and transformed the way we live.
Easton's remarkable career began in 1955 when he co-wrote the Naval Research Laboratory's Project Vanguard proposal for a U.S. satellite program. This proposal, selected by the Eisenhower Administration, marked the beginning of Easton's involvement in satellite technology.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Easton conceived, patented, and led the development of essential enabling technologies for the United States Global Positioning System (GPS). His innovative approach involved a time-based navigational system with passive ranging, circular orbits, and spaceborne high-precision clocks placed in satellites.
The idea was tested with four experimental satellites:
NTS-2, launched in 1977, was the first satellite to transmit GPS signals, paving the way for the modern GPS system we use today.
Roger L. Easton was born on April 30, 1921, in Craftsbury, Vermont, to Dr. Frank B. Easton, a physician, and Della Donnocker, a school teacher. He studied physics at Middlebury College, graduating in 1943, and later attended the University of Michigan for one semester before joining the Naval Research Laboratory in 1943.
Roger L. Easton's groundbreaking contributions to GPS technology have had a profound impact on modern society. His work has enabled accurate navigation, improved logistics, and transformed the way we travel. As a testament to his vision and ingenuity, Easton's legacy continues to inspire new generations of innovators and engineers.
Easton's remarkable career serves as a reminder that human ingenuity and perseverance can lead to incredible breakthroughs, shaping the course of human history.
91 Years Old
Developed the Global Positioning System (GPS), revolutionizing navigation and mapping, and led the team that launched the first GPS satellite in 1978.
