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The constellation of GPS satellites usually rotates about 20 000km altitude. Each satellite is about the size of a small truck, plus its solar sails for electricity generation. About 24 satellites per constellation, and constellations exist or are under construction for the US, the Soviets, the EU, and for China.

Nowadays they contain an atomic clock, and effectively give out accurate time signals which may be decoded on the earth's surface.

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14y ago

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Where sattlelight can be found?

A satellite is an object in space that is orbiting another object. The moon is a natural satellite of the earth. Man-made satellites orbit the earth just outside the earth atmosphere and used for many purposes such as GPS, telecommunications, weather, and spying to name a few. Satellites are in space


How did Albert Einstein's theory of relativity make a difference?

Development of GPS Technology (Satellites at high altitude moving at high velocities) Atomic Clocks (adjust for lost nanoseconds) Radio telescopes


How is a gps used in everyday life?

To find your way to your destination.


What is the difference between GEO MEO and LEO satellites?

LEO os called Low earth orbit, MEO is called Medium Earth Orbit and GEO is called Geostationary orbit. LEO are about 500 Km to 1500 Km above the earth, so the delay is very small and the losses is small too. MEO are installed at 5000 to 12000 km above the earth and generally used for navigation communications like GPS. GEO is about 35800 Km above the equator, the delay and losses are greater, but the advantages is more coverage (it covers 40% of the earth) and there no need to track the satellite, so the earth terminal is cheaper.See the following figure which describes them nicelyI would like to add few additional information as follows:1. Since LEO satellite is nearer to planet compare to MEO and GEO, it has small cell (or foot print).2. Due to small cell coverage, more number of LEO satellite need to install to cover the planet(for instance earth).3. LEO moves very fast compare to MEO, so very frequent hand-off is required between two LEO satellites to avoid interrupt for ongoing calls between two users.4. GPS satellite uses medium earth orbit.5. Satellites which use geostationary orbit known as GEO


How can a GPS help you find your location on earth?

By transmitting signals to satellites that locate us

Related Questions

What is a gps satellite's orbit type?

A GPS satellite's orbit type is typically a medium Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of around 20,000 kilometers. This orbit allows the satellite to provide accurate positioning information to users on the ground while maintaining a good balance between coverage and signal strength.


A system of satellite tracking that establishes the latitude and longitude of a person or object?

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of satellite tracking that uses a network of satellites to determine the latitude and longitude of a person or object on Earth. It provides accurate and real-time information about the location, speed, and altitude of the target. GPS is widely used in various applications, including navigation, transportation, and outdoor activities.


Distance from earth to gps satellite?

Navigation satellites move around Earth at an altitude of about 1,243 miles to 22, 223 miles and at about the same speed of rotation. These satellites are in what is called Medium-Earth orbits (MEO).


How does gps calculate its positinon?

by satellite.


What is it necessary to observe a minimum of four gps satellites to define position?

The GPS receiver measures the distance from it to a GPS satellite. Then it measures the distance to another GPS satellite. The location is somewhere on a line made up of the millions of plaes that these two distances cross each other. A third satellite distance is required to find out where your GPS receiver is, somewhere on that line.This process is called "Trilateration" (Three distances). (Not triangulation).If you want to know how high you are above sea level, you need a distance from a fourth satellite.


Where can I find information about gps satellite tracking?

Here's a link to a website that offers a lot of interesting information to learn about GPS satellite tracking. http://www.edu-observatory.org/gps/tracking.html


what does the phrase gps caddie meaN?

A GPS stands for Global Positioning Satellite and is a device which uses satellite location to determine your position. A caddie is a device which is a container or carrier for another item. As such, a GPS caddie is an item which holds a GPS.


What is the transmission media of GPS?

satellite signals


Can a satellite radio get gps signal?

No. The satellites used to distribute Sirius/XM "satellite" radio operate on frequencies assigned to Sirius/XM "satellite" radio. They don't operate on frequencies allocated to the GPS system.


How does a GPS receiver calculate its distance from a satellite?

Very easily. The GPS receiver measures how long it takes a certain radio signal to travel from the GPS satellite(s) to itself, and from that, the receiver calculates the distance. It can do that because it knows precisely how fast the radio signal travels.If you have signals from at least 3 satellites, the process of trilateration (not triangulation) pinpoints the location where the 3 distances 'cross' each other. If you have 4 satellites 'locked in', then you will find out your altitude, too. (The process is not quite this simple, but to go on would be confusing.)The hard part is measuring the precise time it takes for a certain radio signal to travel from the GPS satellite to your GPS receiver. Well, hard if you do it, but very easy when the GPS receiver does it!First, each GPS satellite carries an on-board atomic clock. This clock is outrageously accurate, but even so, ground stations connected to the US Navy atomic clock system keep each satellite precisely at the correct time. Your GPS receiver has an on-board high-precision clock of its own.Second, when your GPS receiver first makes contact with the constellation of GPS satellites, it is sent an 'almanac' that lists where each satellite is, what it's precise time is, and other goodies. After reading the almanac, the GPS receiver sets itself to the precisely same time as the satellite constellation.Thirdly, when the GPS receiver gets a signal from the satellites, there is information in it that says precisely at what time the radio signal left each satellite, which is identical for all the satellites. Then your GPS receiver 'looks at its watch' and subtracts the 'sent' time from the 'received' time. The data in the almanac are updated by the satellite constellation every few hours so that your GPS receiver will always know where the satellites are and what their precise time is.Go back to the beginning and reread what your GPS receiver can do once it knows the precise travel time of the radio signal.


Why does a marine Global Positioning System have an altitude setting?

Ha! Good question. There is no reason for an altitude readout on a marine GPS, except for the possibility that the GPS might have been designed as a dual-purpose or cross-purpose unit. A hand held GPS can easily be used on a boat, for hiking or geocaching, or in an airplane. A fixed unit could be used on a boat, in an airplane, or in a car. Any of these non-marine uses could have a need for an altitude readout.As the response below suggests, there may be a need for the equipment to include altitude calculations in the resolution of GPS position. However, altitude information for users of marine GPS units have little if any need for altitude information. There is a reason.GPS's altitude measures the users' distance from the center of the SVs orbits. These measurements are referenced to geodetic altitude or ellipsoidal altitude in some GPS equipment. Garmin and most equipment manufacturers utilize a mathematical model in the GPS software which roughly approximates the geodetic model of the earth and reference altitude to this model.Like when one uses a sextant, altitude is important to work out the distance to the horizon and hence make navigation and more rightly ocean (non-pilotage) navigation possible.I hope this gives you an idea of what the altitude figure on your GPS means.


When was the first GPS satellite launched?

The first satellite in the system, Navstar 1, was launched February 22, 1978.