Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

  • Global positioning triangulates an unknown location on Earth by correlating time signals from multiple satellites in orbit
  • NAVSTAR launched by USAF from 1978 to 1994
  • NAVSTAR constellation employs 24 satellites in 12 medium earth orbits staggered such that five to eight are overhead anywhere on Earth at any time
  • NAVSTAR operates in the 1.2 and 1.5 GHz microwave bands
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