GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was designed to be used by the U. S. military and is operated by the U. S. Defense Department. This system consists of 24 satellites, these satellites are 12, 000 miles above us, are constantly moving in a precise orbit, have an atomic clock, and tend to be solar powered. They do have a battery backup so that they will continue to run in the event of a solar eclipse, and each satellites has a small rocket booster to keep your their orbit. The first satellite premiered in 1978 and it again wasn’ t until 1994 when there were a total of hrs a satellites. Each satellite has a life expectancy of about decades, so new satellites tend to be constantly being built as well as launched. Each satellite weighs about 2, 000 pounds and is approximately 17 feet wide when the solar individual panels are extended. In the 1980s the GPS became there to the public, and although it is still maintain through the U. S. Defense Department there is no charge for its usage through the public.
These 24 satellites orbit the earth twice a day and continuously sends the place of the satellite. A Gps system can tell how a long way a satellite is away by comparing time difference between the time a signal was transmitted and made the effort it was received, the longer it takes the signal to be received with a receiver, the farther aside the satellite is. If a GPS is receiving indicators from three satellites it may calculate latitude and longitude. Altitude can be determined if the GPS is receiving signals from four satellites.
GPS can be used for navigating your car through traffic day-to-day and / or tracking a fleet for vehicles. Not only can a driver have a very GPS for directions the primary office knows where that vehicle is and therefore the speed of the automotive. GPS can be used while on a break for activities such when hiking, camping, or seeking. Is your passion fishing but get frustrated trying to find the fish? With the fish finder which utilizes both GPS technology plus sonar you’ ll know exactly where to go to find those fish. GPS technology is also being used as a way to track your pet any time he wanders off or safeguard a pet as a result of being stolen.
Another use for GPS is as a child finder having a receiver in a child’ s cell phone or wristwatch to make sure a child’ s essential safety. It can be used in a teenager’ s car in order to both know where individuals and how fast to operate a vehicle. This could also be used to observe someone who tends to be able to ‘ roam’ but is not capable enough to find there long ago; i. e. someone by means of Alzheimer’ s disease.
As GPS technology improves, it uses will increase. Who knows where it will take us next?
Copyright 2006 Angela Billings
