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What are the three main segments of the Navstar GPS system?
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GPS
U.S. Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite in orbit over Earth, shown in an artist's conception.
The Navstar GPS system is composed of three primary segments that work together to provide precise positioning and navigation data:1
- Space Segment: This consists of the constellation of satellites in orbit around Earth. These satellites transmit navigation pulses to users on the ground and receive instructions from control engineers.1
- Control Segment: This includes a Master Control Station and several uncrewed monitoring stations located globally. This segment tracks satellite orbits, calculates necessary corrections due to gravitational or environmental factors, and relays updated information back to the satellites.1
- User Segment: This comprises the millions of GPS receivers used worldwide. These devices decode the signals transmitted by the satellites to determine location and navigation data for various applications, ranging from personal handheld units to systems installed in vehicles, aircraft, and ships.1