Global POSITIONING SYSTEM

SPACE SEGMENT:

In GPS the space segment comprises a constellation of24

SVs in 6 orbital planes, 21 are operational and the other 3 are in space spares, to be
activated to replace any failure of an operational SV. The orbits have an average height of
10,898 nm (20, 180 km) and have an orbital period of l 2 hours. The orbital planes have
an inclination of 55 and are equally spaced around the Equator. The spacing of the SVs in
their orbits is such that an observer on, or close to the surface of the Earth will have
between five and eight SV s in view, at least 5 above the horizon.
The SVs have 4 atomic clocks ( 2 each of cesium and rubidium standard) with an accuracy
of 1 nanosecond. A SV will be masked (that is not selected for navigation use) if its
elevation is less than 5" above the horizon.
The S\/s broadcast pseudo-random noise (PRN) codes of one millisecond duration on two
frequencies in the UHF band. Each SV has its own unique code.
L1 Frequency: 1575.42 MHz transmits the coarse acquisition (C/A) code repeated every
millisecond with a modulation of 1.023 MHz, the precision (P) code, modulation 10.23 MHz
repeats every seven days and the navigation and system data message at 50 Hz. The
navigation and system data message is used by both the P and C /A. codes.
L2 Frequency: 1227.6 MHz transmitting the P code. The second frequency is used to
determine ionospheric delays.

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28 satellites inclined at 55 to the equator orbit the Earth every 11 hours and 58
minutes at a height of 20,180 km on 6 different orbital planes (Figure ) Each one
of these satellites has up to four atomic clocks on board. Atomic clocks are
currently the most precise instruments known, losing a maximum of one second
every 30,000 to 1,000,000 years. In order to make them even more accurate, they are
regularly adjusted or synchronized from various control points on Earth. Each satellite
transmits its exact position and its precise on board clock time to Earth at a frequency of
1575.42 MHz. These signals are transmitted at the speed of light (300,000 km/s) and
therefore require approx. 67.3 ms to reach a position on the Earths surface located
directly below the satellite. The signals require a further 3.33 us for each excess
kilometer of travel. If you wish to establish your position on land (or at sea or in the
air), all you require is an accurate clock. By comparing the arrival time of the
satellite signal with the on board clock time the moment the signal was emitted, it
is possible to determine the transit time of that of that signal.
The distance S to the satellite can be determined by using the known transit time T
distance = travel time the speed of light
S=

T.

Measuring signal transit time and knowing the distance to a satellite is still not enough to
calculate ones own position in 3-D space. To achieve this, four independent transit
time measurements are required. It is for this reason that signal communication with
four different satellites is needed to calculate ones exact position. Why this should be so,
can best be explained by initially determining ones position on a plane.

Determining a position on a plane:

Imagine that you are wandering across a vast plateau and would like to know
where you are. Two satellites are orbiting far above you transmitting their own on
board clock times and positions. By using the signal transit time, to both satellites
you can draw two circles with the radii S1 and S2 around the satellites. Each
radius corresponds to the distance calculated to the satellite. All possible distances
to the satellite are located on the circumference of the circle. If the position
above the satellites is excluded, the location of the receiver is at the exact

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point where the two circles intersect beneath the satellites (Figure ), Two satellites
are sufficient to determine a position on the X/Y plane.

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