Are Gps Satellites Geosynchronous

While geosynchronous orbits match the rotation of earth 24 hours semi synchronous orbits take 12 hours to complete an orbit.

Are gps satellites geosynchronous. A number of weather satellites are also present in geosynchronous orbits. 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. The availability of the gps signal at geo is determined by the gps block specific antenna patterns and the geo satellite s receiver antenna. The gps satellites are not in a geostationary orbit but rise and set two times per day.

Each satellite broadcasts radio waves towards earth that contain information regarding its position and time. Geosynchronous satellites are typically used for various purposes such as communicating back and forth with spacecraft like the hubble space telescope and space shuttles voice communication internet broadcasting cable tv and radio. This orbit is consistent and highly predictable. A geosynchronous satellite is a satellite in geosynchronous orbit with an orbital period the same as the earth s rotation period such a satellite returns to the same position in the sky after each sidereal day and over the course of a day traces out a path in the sky that is typically some form of analemma a special case of geosynchronous satellite is the geostationary satellite which has a.

As the satellite moves the earth rotates underneath it. Examples of geosynchronous satellites which have the inclined orbit include the russian raduga 29 indian astra 1c malaysian measat 2 and many others. It is the orbit used by the global positioning system gps satellites. Gps data for a particular geosynchronous satellite mission and is included here as a reference.

Actually if you click on one of the gps satellites to show its orbit and then spin the diagram a bit you will be able to tell that the gps satellite orbits have a smaller radius than the geosynchronous sats about 2 3 to 3 4 of the geosynch radius and therefore orbit faster around the earth. Global positioning system gps satellites are in another sweet spot known as semi synchronous orbits. In 24 hours the satellite crosses over the same two spots on the equator every day. A geosynchronous orbit sometimes abbreviated gso is an earth centered orbit with an orbital period that matches earth s rotation on its axis 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds one sidereal day the synchronization of rotation and orbital period means that for an observer on earth s surface an object in geosynchronous orbit returns to exactly the same position in the sky after a period.

The gps satellites circle the earth at an altitude of about 20 000 km 13 000 miles and complete two full orbits every day.