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Oh, Interesting. I always figured GPS satellites were geo-stationary, but in fact (as you pointed out), they travel at 7000 mp/h :-0
by some1else 16y ago
Oh, Interesting. I always figured GPS satellites were geo-stationary, but in fact (as you pointed out), they travel at 7000 mp/h :-0
- pmjordan 16y agoGeostationary orbits would tie the satellites to being directly above the equator, which (a) would prevent the system from working beyond a certain latitude and (b) would cause an extremely bad distribution of "visible" satellites and angles between signals, precision would suffer.
- kiujygtyujik 16y agoNot to mention the transmitter power you would need if they were 25,000miles away in GSO rather than 90mi away in LEO
- chrisbolt 16y agoGPS satellites are actually in MEO, at 12,500 miles away. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Earth_orbit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Earth_orbit
- tetha 16y agoNote that while you sit on your chair, you are travelling pretty fast. Relativity for the win!