Satellite Systems

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the standard generic term for satellite navigation systems that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. more...

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A GNSS allows small electronic receivers to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude) to within a few metres using time signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites. Receivers on the ground with a fixed position can also be used to calculate the precise time as a reference for scientific experiments.

As of 2007, the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS. The Russian GLONASS is a GNSS in the process of being restored to full operation. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is a next generation GNSS in the initial deployment phase, scheduled to be operational in 2010. China has indicated it may expand its regional Beidou navigation system into a global system. India's IRNSS, a next generation GNSS is in developmental phase and is scheduled to be operational around 2012.

GNSS classification

GNSS that provide enhanced accuracy and integrity monitoring usable for civil navigation are classified as follows:

GNSS-1 is the first generation system and is the combination of existing satellite navigation systems (GPS and GLONASS), with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) or Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS). In the United States, the satellite based component is the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), in Europe it is the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), and in Japan it is the Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS). Ground based augmentation is provided by systems like the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS).;

GNSS-2 is the second generation of systems that independently provides a full civilian satellite navigation system, exemplified by the European Galileo positioning system. These systems will provide the accuracy and integrity monitoring necessary for civil navigation. This system consists of L1 and L2 frequencies for civil use and L5 for system integrity. Development is also in progress to provide GPS with civil use L2 and L5 frequencies, making it a GNSS-2 system.¹;

Core Satellite navigation systems, currently GPS, Galileo and GLONASS.; Global Satellite Based Augmnetation Systems (SBAS) such as Omnistar and Stafire.; Regional SBAS including WAAS(US), EGNOS (EU), MSAS (Japan) and GAGAN (India).; Regional Satellite Navigation Systems such a QZSS (Japan), IRNSS (India) and Beidou (China).; Continental scale Ground Based Augmentaion Systems (GBAS) for example the Australian GRAS and the US Department of Transportation National Differential GPS (DGPS) service.; Regional scale GBAS such as CORS networks.; Local GBAS typified by a single GPS reference station operating Real Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections.;

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