Navigatsioonisatelliidi

Navigatsioonisatelliit refers to a satellite that is part of a satellite navigation system. These systems utilize a constellation of satellites orbiting Earth to provide autonomous geospatial positioning. By triangulating signals from multiple satellites, a receiver on the ground can determine its precise location, altitude, and velocity. The most well-known satellite navigation system is the Global Positioning System (GPS), operated by the United States. Other global systems include GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), and BeiDou (China). Regional systems also exist, such as QZSS (Japan) and IRNSS/NavIC (India).

The primary function of a navigatsioonisatelliit is to continuously broadcast signals that contain information about its orbital position and the precise time. Receivers on Earth synchronize their internal clocks with these satellite signals and use the time difference and known satellite positions to calculate the distance to each satellite. With signals from at least four satellites, a receiver can compute a three-dimensional fix of its location. These systems are crucial for a vast array of applications, including transportation (car navigation, aviation, maritime), surveying, agriculture, emergency services, and everyday consumer devices like smartphones. The accuracy and reliability of these systems are constantly being improved through technological advancements and the deployment of new generations of satellites.