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Oh, Interesting. I always figured GPS satellites were geo-stationary, but in fact (as you pointed out), they travel at 7000 mp/h :-0


Geostationary orbits would tie the satellites to being directly above the equator, which (a) would prevent the system from working beyond a certain latitude and (b) would cause an extremely bad distribution of "visible" satellites and angles between signals, precision would suffer.


Not to mention the transmitter power you would need if they were 25,000miles away in GSO rather than 90mi away in LEO


GPS satellites are actually in MEO, at 12,500 miles away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Earth_orbit


Note that while you sit on your chair, you are travelling pretty fast. Relativity for the win!




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