Navigatsioonisatelliidisüsteem

Navigatsioonisatelliidisüsteem refers to a global or regional system of artificial satellites that provides autonomous geospatial positioning with worldwide coverage. These systems allow small electronic receivers to determine their location, time, and velocity by triangulating signals from multiple satellites. The most well-known example is the Global Positioning System (GPS), operated by the United States. Other prominent systems include Russia's GLONASS, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and the European Union's Galileo.

The core principle behind these systems is trilateration. A receiver on Earth calculates its distance from several satellites based on the time it takes for their signals to arrive. Knowing the precise position of each satellite at the time of transmission, the receiver can compute its own position in three dimensions. Accurate timing is crucial, making atomic clocks on the satellites essential.

Navigatsioonisatelliidisüsteem have revolutionized navigation for land, sea, and air transport. They are also integral to surveying, agriculture, disaster relief, and countless other applications requiring precise location data. The development and maintenance of these complex systems involve significant technological expertise and international cooperation. Each system has its own constellation of satellites, ground control stations, and signal characteristics, though interoperability efforts are ongoing to allow receivers to use signals from multiple systems simultaneously for improved accuracy and reliability.