Naval Academy Reinstates Celestial Navigation: “After All, You Can’t Hack a Sextant”
October 14th, 2015Via: Capital Gazette:
Officials reinstated brief lessons in celestial navigation this year, nearly two decades after the full class was determined outdated and cut from the curriculum.
That decision, in the late 1990s, made national news and caused a stir among the old guard of navigators.
Maritime nostalgia, however, isn’t behind the return.
Rather, it’s the escalating threat of cyber attacks that has led the Navy to dust off its tools to measure the angles of stars.
After all, you can’t hack a sextant.
Life imitates art, from “The Avengers” (2012)
Nick Fury: Bring the carrier about to 180, headed south! Take us to the water.
Pilot: We’re flying blind! Navigation’s recalibrating after the engine failure!
Fury: [Exasperated] Is the sun coming up?
Pilot: Yes, sir.
Fury: Then put it on the left!