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Satellite Navigation

Satellite navigation systems use satellites to allow small electronic receivers to determine their precise location on Earth by calculating the time signals transmitted from satellites. Global navigation satellite systems provide global position coverage using constellations of 18-30 medium Earth orbit satellites spread across multiple orbital planes at an altitude of around 20,000 kilometers. Currently operational global systems include the United States' GPS, Russia's GLONASS, China's BeiDou, and the European Union's Galileo system which is scheduled to be fully operational by 2020.

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105 views1 page

Satellite Navigation

Satellite navigation systems use satellites to allow small electronic receivers to determine their precise location on Earth by calculating the time signals transmitted from satellites. Global navigation satellite systems provide global position coverage using constellations of 18-30 medium Earth orbit satellites spread across multiple orbital planes at an altitude of around 20,000 kilometers. Currently operational global systems include the United States' GPS, Russia's GLONASS, China's BeiDou, and the European Union's Galileo system which is scheduled to be fully operational by 2020.

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himanshu
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A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous

geo-spatial positioning. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location


(longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high precision (within a few metres) using time
signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites. The system can be used for
providing position, navigation or for tracking the position of something fitted with a receiver
(satellite tracking). The signals also allow the electronic receiver to calculate the current local
time to high precision, which allows time synchronisation. Satnav systems operate independently
of any telephonic or internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of
the positioning information generated.

A satellite navigation system with global coverage may be termed a global navigation satellite
system (GNSS). As of December 2016, only the United States' Global Positioning System(GPS),
Russia's GLONASS, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System(BDS) and the European
Union's Galileo are global operational GNSSs. The European Union's Galileo GNSS is
scheduled to be fully operational by 2020.[1] China is in the process of expanding its regional
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System into the global BeiDou-2 GNSS by 2020.[2] India, France
and Japan are in the process of developing regional navigation and augmentation systems as
well.

Global coverage for each system is generally achieved by a satellite constellation of 18–30
medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites spread between several orbital planes. The actual systems
vary, but use orbital inclinations of >50° and orbital periods of roughly twelve hours (at an
altitude of about 20,000 kilometres or 12,000 miles).

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