Although a U.S. defense satellite intelligence system experienced serious Y2K problems with permanent loss of data, the GPS system functioned as expected through the year-end rollover, according to the military keepers of the U.S. satellite-based navigation system. There was, however, at least one computer bug problem in a Navy navigation system and leap year issues remain to be watched as reported by our sister publication Global Positioning & Navigation News.

"GPS did well through the rollover, [which] is not any surprise to me," given the degree of time and effort spent, since 1997, preparing the software systems, said Col. Robert Worley, commander of the 50^th Operations Group of the Air Force Space Command. This unit is responsible for running the GPS ground control and space segments.

Some GPS-related Y2K problems, however, were experienced. The Navy’s GPS-assisted, personal computer navigation system which provides continuous course and speed input to the C3 systems aboard 146 vessels, "wasn’t getting the input from GPS," says Rear Adm. Jay Cohen, the service’s project officer.