From Earth Modeling to a Key Force Behind Global Navigation: the “Mother of GPS” Passes Away | WPN World People News

American mathematician Gladys West, hailed as the “Mother of GPS,” recently passed away peacefully at the age of 95, surrounded by her family. Her decades-long work on mathematical models of the Earth and satellite data analysis is regarded as a crucial foundation enabling the precise operation of modern global positioning systems.

Born in 1930, West grew up in the southern United States during an era when racial segregation was still enforced. As a child, she helped with work on her family’s small farm. Thanks to her outstanding academic performance, she earned a scholarship to attend Virginia State College, where she completed degrees in mathematics-related fields, laying the groundwork for her future scientific career.

In 1956, she joined a U.S. Navy research facility in Dahlgren, Virginia, becoming one of the very few African American women professionals at the institution. She served there for more than forty years. Her primary responsibility was to apply mathematical methods to process vast amounts of satellite observation data in order to build precise models that accurately reflect the Earth’s shape and variations in gravity, correcting positioning errors caused by the fact that the Earth is not a perfect sphere.

At a time when computing power was still quite limited, this type of analytical work was extremely challenging. Nevertheless, the results achieved by West and her team ultimately became indispensable theoretical foundations for calculating positions in satellite navigation systems, indirectly influencing modern life in areas such as aviation, maritime navigation, disaster relief, communications, and smart devices.

Despite the profound impact of her research on the world, West’s name remained largely unknown to the public for many years. It was not until 2018 that she began to receive broader attention, followed by official commendations and high recognition within professional circles. In her seventies, she even chose to return to school, overcoming health challenges to complete a doctoral degree, demonstrating remarkable passion for scholarship and perseverance.

Interestingly, despite laying the theoretical foundations for navigation technology, West personally preferred using paper maps when going out. She once remarked that being able to see the direction and turns of roads with her own eyes made her feel more at ease. Her low-key yet far-reaching influence continues to be felt today in every act of positioning and navigation around the world.