The idea of ​​interplanetary GPS and appeared in 1967, when pulsars were first discovered - cosmic sources of radio, optical, X-ray and / or gamma radiation coming to the Earth in the form of periodic bursts (pulses).

Registering impulses from several sources, one can determine its position in space with high precision. And if for GPS / GLONASS work only on the surface of the Earth, pulsars allow you to navigate throughout the solar system and the galaxy too.

NASA has developed a "pulsar on the table" - a simulator X-ray pulses, which will be used for the development of the first navigation system based on the emission of X-ray pulsars.

The program is nicer / Sextant (neutron stars, the composition of the interior conductor / conductor of the station for the X-ray timing and navigation technology) includes the launch in 2017 a research platform that will study signal neutron stars and pulsars. These materials form the basis of the first "for the interplanetary GPS".