While his theory of relativity is a crucial foundation for understanding how GPS works, the concept and development of the GPS system itself came much later.

Here's a breakdown:

* Einstein's contribution: Einstein's theory of relativity explains how gravity affects time and space. This is essential for GPS, as the satellites orbiting Earth experience time differently than those on the ground. The GPS system must account for these differences in time to accurately determine location.

* GPS development: The development of the GPS system started in the 1950s and 1960s, long after Einstein's work. The US Department of Defense spearheaded this project, launching the first GPS satellites in the 1970s.

Therefore, Einstein's work paved the way for GPS, but he did not directly invent or discover the system.