(2 mins read)
On my recent flight from Kochi to Hyderabad, curiosity got the better of me. Midway through the clouds, I wondered: "where exactly am I right now?" Out of habit, I opened Google Maps on my phone. I expected nothing, after all, there’s no internet at that altitude. But to my surprise, the familiar blue dot appeared, moving rapidly across southern India. No Wi-Fi, no mobile data, yet there it was: my live location, zipping by at nearly 1000 km/h.
That’s when I realized something fascinating: GPS doesn’t need the internet.
Our phone’s GPS (Global Positioning System) works by receiving signals from a constellation of about 30 satellites orbiting Earth. Each satellite sends a precise timestamp and location. Our device calculates how long these signals take to arrive and triangulates our exact position. It’s pure math and physics, no network required.
Of course, the map tiles (the visuals of roads and cities) need internet to load. But if you’ve used the app recently, or downloaded offline maps, your phone already has them stored. That’s why you can still see the world below, even when cruising above the clouds.
So next time you’re on a flight without seatback screens, try this “sky hack.” Turn on flight mode, enable GPS, and watch your blue dot glide from one city to another, proof that even miles above Earth, technology can still find you.
Sources: GPS.gov, NASA JPL, Google Maps Help
 |
| completed 1KM every 4 seconds |
