Timation

The Timation satellites were conceived, developed, and launched by the United States Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. beginning in 1964.

The concept of Timation was to broadcast an accurate time reference for use as a ranging signal to receivers on the ground.

[5] The results of this program and Air Force Project 621B formed the basis for the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Navy's contribution to the GPS program continued to be focused on ever more accurate clocks.

[6] There is a historical connection between accurate time keeping, navigation, and the Navy.

The Naval Research Laboratory ’s managers for the Timation program and, later, the GPS program: Roger L. Easton (left) and Al Bartholomew .
Timation 1 (rectangular object in center of photo), launched May 31, 1967, tested in a "piggyback" launch aboard an Air Force Thor-Agena D rocket
Navigation Technology Satellite 2 (Timation 4)