All of humanity's artificial satellites mysteriously vanish one day, with no warning or apparent cause. A small group of government and business operators were the first to grasp the problem. But, before they have a chance to understand what has happened, millions of people lounging on their couches notice something is wrong. Satellite television, which is broadcast from or routed by satellites, dominates the market for international programmers as well as some local stations, hence its departure has a global impact. Travelers by air, sea, or land will be the next to be affected, as global positioning, navigation, and timing services have all but disappeared. Pilots, captains, and drivers must use analog instruments and maps to identify their locations. Aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles are all forced to come to a halt, be grounded, or return to port. Meanwhile, air traffic controllers are faced with a difficult task: preventing jet crashes. Most of the world's traffi...