The Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, also referred to as the space segment, is comprised of a minimum of 24 operational satellites. Currently, there are 32 satellites in the constellation. These satellites travel in medium Earth orbits, approximately 12,000 miles (about 19,312 km) above the Earth’s surface. Each satellite orbits the Earth twice a day at speeds of around 7,000 miles per hour (3.9 km/s), completing an orbit in roughly 11 hours and 58 minutes.
The satellites are strategically distributed across six orbital planes, each inclined at 55 degrees to the equator. Every plane accommodates four satellites, ensuring that at least five satellites are visible from any point on Earth’s surface.
The six distinct orbital planes are:
- [[GPS Plane A]]
- [[GPS Plane B]]
- [[GPS Plane C]]
- [[GPS Plane D]]
- [[GPS Plane E]]
- [[GPS Plane F]]
[[Modeling the GPS Space Segment]]
[[GPS Satellite]]
[[GPS Block 2F]] – Boeing Satellites
Sources
- [1] “What is GPS? | Garmin.” Accessed: Nov. 21, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/aboutgps/
- [2] Peter Zipfel, Inside 6 DoF Simulations, (Feb. 10, 2022). Accessed: Dec. 10, 2022. [Online Video]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30EIDIXvb2Y
- [3] M. Usman, “Using SDRs as a GPS/GNSS simulator,” Embedded.com. Accessed: Jan. 04, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.embedded.com/using-sdrs-as-a-gps-gnss-simulator/
- [4] M. Usman, “Using SDRs as a GPS/GNSS simulator,” Embedded.com. Accessed: Jan. 04, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.embedded.com/using-sdrs-as-a-gps-gnss-simulator/