Everyone at Schriever Air Force Base have so many reasons to celebrate on Wednesday. They have witnessed a successful launch of a Global Positioning System satellite. They have also celebrated two decades of GPS guiding the globe.

Under the control of Schriever airmen, the satellite reached orbit at 9.36 am and set its solar arrays by 3pm. Completion of 20 years of GPS guidance could not have been possible without airmen in Colorado Springs who make sure that the satellite signals reach to billions of users.

Celebrations took place at the 50th Space Wing's headquarters on the base. As per the current estimations, there are .5 billion civilian GPS-enabled devices in the planet. This number does not include the US military's range of trucks, bombs, planes and drones that translate GPS into modern warfare.

Schriever contractor Michael O'Brine has worked on GPS since its initial days was of the view that they have never imagined that GPS would transform in such a way. Maj. Roland Rainey, operations officer for the wing's 150- member 2nd Space Operations Squadron that handles GPS, was of the view, "It is being operated by young professionals who average 23 years old".

GPS has become a part of life for majority of people living on earth. Whether it is telephone or computer networks, all require GPS signals. In fact, every time you make an ATM swipe, GPS records the timing of the transaction.

Everyone from farmers, wildlife trackers, emergency workers, pizza driver to airline pilots, all use the signals of GPS beams.