Global Positioning Satellite System has three parts that are both dependent and independent to one another. They are called segments and each segment has a hand in the basic processes such as data requesting, data transmitting, processing and retrieval or return. The three segments are the user segment, space segment and control segment. This delicate balance of monitoring and receiving data keeps the system in check.
The space segment is probably one of the most expensive and highly advanced of the three. This segment consists of a net of twenty four satellites that make a routine orbit around the whole planet. Each satellite is specifically located eleven thousand nautical miles in the earth’s outer layer, and have their own orbits to follow. Orbits take 12 earth hours, and each satellite is equipped with an atomic clock that synchronizes both data transmission and space allowance between each satellite to prevent bumping towards each other and to also prevent service localization.
The control segment consists of various ground stations that are placed on Earth. They are stationary locations that are responsible for handling various data that goes from satellite to each monitoring station. A master control station is located at Colorado, in the Schriever Air Force Base. Six other unstaffed stations located in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Ascension Island in the Atlantic, Cape Canaveral in Florida and another one in Colorado make up the system. There are four other large ground antenna stations that send data and monitor the satellites themselves to make sure they don’t go off in an unexpected manner.
The user segment is the segment people would be most popular with since it is used by the public. They are the receivers, as they obtain data that is sent out by the satellites and processes this data into working information for people. There are at least a hundred types of these models scattered around without some knowing they exist. Like in the wristwatch, car or cellphone for example. The smallest receivers weigh as little as an ounce.
The request sent in by the user is handled by the space segment. The space segment sends back data according to location by which the user would receive the fastest response time. Monitoring stations make sure that the satellites send integral data back to the receiver. All collected data is sent to the master control station for processing and storage. The ground antenna from the master control stations sends back critical data to the satellites to adjust in cases where it is needed.
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