SEGMENTS OF GPS
Space segment:
The space segment consists of 29 satellites orbiting the Earth every 12 hours at an altitude of 12,000 miles in altitude. This high altitude allows the signals to cover a greater area. The satellites are so arranged in their orbit so that a GPS receiver on Earth can receive signal for at least four satellites at a given time. Each satellite contains several atomic clocks.The satellite transmits low radio signals of unique code on different frequencies. The main purpose of the coded signal is to allow the satellite to calculate the time travel of the signal from satellite to receiver.
Control Segment:
The control segment consists of five unmanned monitor stations and one Master Control station. The five unmanned stations monitor the GPS satellite signals and then send them to the Master Control station where anomalies are corrected and sent back to the GPS satellites through ground antennas.
User Segment:
The user segment consists of receivers which detect, decode and process satellite signals.