Gps Satellite Orbit Speed

Orbits of the gps satellites distances are to scale the satellites orbit the earth with a speed of 3 9 km per second and have a circulation time of 12 h sidereal time corresponding to 11 h 58 min earth time.

Gps satellite orbit speed.

The satellites in the gps constellation are arranged into six equally spaced orbital planes. Gps satellites fly in medium earth orbit meo at an altitude of approximately 20 200 km 12 550 miles. This equation represents the speed that a satellite at a given radius must travel in order to orbit if the orbit is due to gravity. In 24 hours the satellite crosses over the same two spots on the equator every day.

A gps receiver monitors multiple satellites and solves equations to determine the precise position of the. Since the speed of radio waves is constant and independent of the satellite speed the time delay between when the satellite transmits a signal and the receiver receives it is proportional to the distance from the satellite to the receiver. This means that the same satellite reaches a certain position about 4 minutes earlier each day. As the satellite moves the earth rotates underneath it.

It is the orbit used by the global positioning system gps satellites. The gps satellites circle the earth at an altitude of about. Since a sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than a solar day a gps satellite orbits once every 11 hours and 58 minutes. The speed can t vary as long as the satellite has a constant orbital radius that is as long as it s going around in circles.

This equation holds for any orbiting object where the attraction is the force of. Each satellite circles the earth twice a day. The gps satellites are uniformly distributed in a total of six orbits such that there are four satellites per orbit. Each satellite in the gps constellation orbits at an altitude of about 20 000 km from the ground and has an orbital speed of about 14 000 km hour the orbital period is roughly 12 hours contrary to popular belief gps satellites are not in geosynchronous or geostationary orbits.

A satellite at this height takes 12 hours to complete an orbit. This number of satellites and spatial distribution of orbits insures that at least eight satellites can be simultaneously seen at any time from almost anywhere on earth. Air force s next gps 3 series navigation satellite destined for an orbit more than 12 000. Enlarge expandable 24 slot satellite constellation as defined in the sps performance standard.