How many GPS satellites are in the sky at any one time?
Uncle Pennybags asked:
By this I mean from horizon to horizon. If you had a GPS unit and you were in the middle of a flat plain, how many satellites could it possibly pick up?
By this I mean from horizon to horizon. If you had a GPS unit and you were in the middle of a flat plain, how many satellites could it possibly pick up?
From everywhere on the surface of the earth, at least 6 satellites are visible at any one time (assuming you don’t have any nearby buildings or mountains in the way), and a maximum of 12. Currently there are a total of 31 active GPS satellites in orbit, and 2 inactive spares.
You only need 4 satellites to achieve an accurate position, however some receivers can use additional satellites to narrow down your position even more accurately.
Here is an animation which you may find interesting: lavalamp3773
There are more than we really are told know 12 . unknown many , there is more space junk they call it in orbit than cars on the freeways, weather is not the only reasons the launches are scrubbed is because of space junk and satellites, as on satellites in the past my first cell phone only certain times of the day in certain places could calls be permitted, they were low in the horizon and mountain would and can still block signals, 97% of the connected USA can receive information GPS and mapping almost 24-7 so that is many satellites, that get out of orbit all the time and they send up new upgraded types constantly, there are many more than 12. not counting all the top secret stuff the Military uses and C.I.A.unknown to public. lightningfastfords