The first GPS satellite was launched on February 14, 1989. Eventually, 24 satellites would make up the GPS constellation that allows GPS receivers to determine its position on earth.
Selective availability, or the introduction of errors of up to 100 meters, was turned off on May 1, 2000, allowing civilian users of GPS to be able to accurately pinpoint their position. On May 3, 2000, Dave Ulmer placed a black bucket near Beaver Creek, Oregon and posted the coordinates (N 45 17.460 W 122 24.800) online at sci.geo.satellite-nav. Within 3 days, 2 people found the cache and posted their find online. Geocaching was born.
