Isn't the proliferation of multiple GNSS constellations actually quite positive thing? The smartphone geolocation chips seem to have no problem receiving signals from all constellations. So effectively this competition between the systems allows for denser coverage of location satellites. This in turn should enable more accuracy and faster location acquisition even with limited sky visibility. In security sense, it s…
China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
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Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#42So, if North Korea wants to develop an ICBM, the main challenges are 4: take off (which they appear to have mastered), miniaturization of the bomb, navigation and reentry vehicle. All the remaining 3 are quite difficult, and navigation in particular was traditionally done by a mix of inertial (i.e. based on gyroscopes) and celestial (i.e. based on the observation of stars). GPS makes all this unnecessary. If NK uses…
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
With military receivers (or codeless phase tracking) the current constellation is good down to centimeters.
This isn't possible without third party data. Things like the refractive index of the atmosphere (which depends on weather patterns), and the fact orbits are slightly warped due to varying gravitational fields and radiation pressure from the sun, all add up to location innacuracies unless you can correct for these effects. That correction requires data, which needs to come from a third party because the satellites do…
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
the problem with just one is that US will insist having a deadswitch on it, just like it did with Galileo. so you must have your own if you don't want US to have a Damocles sword over you
Newer GPS satellites apparently don't support selective availability, so they would have no way of preventing access to only civilian devices. Of course, any of these systems can be jammed or shot down but that would affect anyone using it. > In September 2007, the U.S. government announced its decision to procure the future generation of GPS satellites, known as GPS III, without the SA feature. Doing this will make…
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
Something SpaceX could consider? Given their ambition with Satellite Internet backbone.
Yeah hopefully there can be a consortium of Automobile manufacturers, internet companies and academia which can launch such a constellation of open source satellites for location services. Hopefully that can be combined with terrestrial peer to peer network to make sure it works even if military or specific nation wants to block it.
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
the problem with just one is that US will insist having a deadswitch on it, just like it did with Galileo. so you must have your own if you don't want US to have a Damocles sword over you
Newer GPS satellites apparently don't support selective availability, so they would have no way of preventing access to only civilian devices. Of course, any of these systems can be jammed or shot down but that would affect anyone using it. > In September 2007, the U.S. government announced its decision to procure the future generation of GPS satellites, known as GPS III, without the SA feature. Doing this will make…
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#47Welcome to 1978 China.
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#48So, if North Korea wants to develop an ICBM, the main challenges are 4: take off (which they appear to have mastered), miniaturization of the bomb, navigation and reentry vehicle. All the remaining 3 are quite difficult, and navigation in particular was traditionally done by a mix of inertial (i.e. based on gyroscopes) and celestial (i.e. based on the observation of stars). GPS makes all this unnecessary. If NK uses…
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#49Pretty significant indicator that the intention is for military applications
Re: China's version of GPS now has more satellites than US original
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
With military receivers (or codeless phase tracking) the current constellation is good down to centimeters.
This isn't possible without third party data. Things like the refractive index of the atmosphere (which depends on weather patterns), and the fact orbits are slightly warped due to varying gravitational fields and radiation pressure from the sun, all add up to location innacuracies unless you can correct for these effects. That correction requires data, which needs to come from a third party because the satellites do…