NASA Laser Boosts GPS Satellite Accuracy

New laser technology will improve GPS location and navigation data for users worldwide.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 2:38am

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A NASA laser reflecting technology known as a laser retroreflector array (LRA) has been launched aboard a new GPS III satellite, which will help improve the accuracy of the Global Positioning System. The LRA, a set of mirrors that precisely reflect light back to its source, enables more precise distance measurements through laser ranging. This will result in GPS data with a stronger tie to the global coordinate system, providing users with more accurate location and navigation information.

Why it matters

Improved GPS accuracy supports a wide range of applications, from personal navigation to Earth observation satellites that rely on precise GPS data to pinpoint their location. More accurate GPS can lead to better data collection and analysis for understanding our planet and providing early warnings for natural hazards.

The details

The LRA instrument was launched aboard the GPS III SV-09 satellite on January 27, 2026. It is a key component of laser ranging, a technique that measures precise distance by observing the time it takes for a pulse of light to travel from a ground station to the mirrors and back. This allows the GPS satellite to have a stronger tie to the global coordinate system, resulting in more accurate location and navigation data for users.

  • The LRA instrument was launched aboard the GPS III SV-09 satellite on January 27, 2026.
  • The LRA became operational on March 9, 2026.

The players

NASA

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics, and space research.

U.S. Space Force

The space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces, responsible for the GPS satellite constellation.

Lucia Tsaoussi

Program manager for NASA's Space Geodesy at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Stephen Merkowitz

Project manager for the Space Geodesy Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

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What they’re saying

“LRAs are the most efficient and cost-effective way to improve products that come out of GPS.”

— Lucia Tsaoussi, Program manager for NASA's Space Geodesy

“We are the hidden infrastructure. Most people don't realize that they're relying on these kinds of measurements every day throughout their lives.”

— Stephen Merkowitz, Project manager for the Space Geodesy Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

What’s next

The improved GPS accuracy enabled by the new laser technology is expected to benefit a wide range of applications, from personal navigation to Earth observation satellites, in the coming years.

The takeaway

This NASA laser technology represents a significant advancement in GPS accuracy, which will have far-reaching impacts on how people and systems rely on location and navigation data in their daily lives and for critical scientific and environmental monitoring applications.