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Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) are engineered to enhance, rather than decrease, the reliability and accuracy of existing global GNSS services.
Answer: True
Explanation: SBAS are designed to improve the performance and integrity of GNSS signals, making them more reliable for users.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), designated as NavIC, is a regional system intended to provide positioning services primarily over the Indian subcontinent and surrounding areas, not global coverage.
Answer: True
Explanation: NavIC is specifically designed as a regional system focused on providing coverage for India and its immediate vicinity.
The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) is a regional system developed by Japan, primarily serving the Asia-Oceania regions, not the African continent.
Answer: True
Explanation: QZSS is designed for enhanced GPS coverage in Japan and surrounding areas.
EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), not a stand-alone Regional Navigation Satellite System (RNSS).
Answer: True
Explanation: EGNOS functions as an augmentation system for GPS and Galileo, rather than an independent navigation system.
The NavIC system utilizes satellites in geostationary (GEO) and geosynchronous (GSO) orbits, which differs from the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) configuration typically used by GPS.
Answer: True
Explanation: NavIC's use of GEO/GSO orbits is a key characteristic distinguishing it from MEO-based global systems like GPS.
What is the primary function of a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS)?
Answer: To enhance the accuracy and reliability of existing global GNSS systems.
Explanation: SBAS systems provide corrections and integrity information to improve the performance of global GNSS.
Which system is cited as an example of a stand-alone Regional Navigation Satellite System (RNSS)?
Answer: NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)
Explanation: NavIC is presented as an example of a regional system that operates independently.
What is the approximate positional accuracy provided by the public service of India's NavIC system?
Answer: Better than 7.6 meters
Explanation: NavIC's public service aims for an accuracy of better than 7.6 meters within its service area.
Which regional satellite system, developed by Japan, functions as a time transfer system and an enhancement for GPS?
Answer: QZSS
Explanation: QZSS is Japan's regional system designed to augment GPS signals and provide precise timing.
What is the principal function of EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service)?
Answer: To supplement GPS and Galileo by reporting reliability and providing corrections.
Explanation: EGNOS enhances GPS and Galileo by providing integrity information and corrections.
Which of the following GNSS systems incorporates geostationary or geosynchronous orbits for a portion of its satellite constellation?
Answer: NavIC
Explanation: NavIC utilizes GEO/GSO satellites, while GPS and Galileo primarily use MEO satellites. BeiDou also uses IGSO satellites.
Satellites constituting global GNSS constellations typically orbit at altitudes of approximately 20,000 kilometers (about 12,500 miles), placing them in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).
Answer: True
Explanation: This altitude range is characteristic of Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), which is standard for most global GNSS constellations.
Radio-wave refraction through the Earth's atmosphere is a significant factor that can introduce errors into the calculation of satellite positions and signal travel times.
Answer: True
Explanation: Atmospheric effects, particularly ionospheric and tropospheric refraction, are primary sources of error in GNSS positioning.
Modern GNSS satellites transmit signals that include precise orbital data (ephemeris) and the exact time of signal transmission, which are critical for receiver calculations.
Answer: True
Explanation: This transmitted data allows receivers to determine the satellite's position in space and the signal's travel time, fundamental for trilateration.
Atomic clocks are employed in GNSS satellites to maintain extremely precise time synchronization across the constellation, which is fundamental for accurate distance measurements and positioning.
Answer: True
Explanation: The high precision of atomic clocks is essential for the timing accuracy required in GNSS operations.
The fundamental mathematical technique used in GNSS positioning is trilateration, which calculates position based on distances to satellites.
Answer: True
Explanation: Trilateration, using distance measurements to multiple known points (satellites), is the core geometric principle.
Einstein's theory of general relativity has a significant and measurable impact on the timing accuracy of GPS systems, necessitating relativistic corrections for precise positioning.
Answer: True
Explanation: Relativistic effects, predicted by Einstein's theories, must be accounted for to maintain the accuracy of GNSS timing and positioning.
GNSS receivers utilize signals from multiple satellites, not just one, in conjunction with sophisticated algorithms to mitigate positioning errors and achieve accurate fixes.
Answer: True
Explanation: The use of signals from at least four satellites is typically required for a 3D position fix and error mitigation.
The ionosphere's effect on satellite navigation signals is primarily to slow them down, introducing delays that must be accounted for in positioning calculations.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ionospheric delay is a significant error source that requires modeling and correction for accurate GNSS positioning.
What is the characteristic orbital altitude for satellites deployed in global GNSS constellations?
Answer: Approximately 20,000 kilometers (Medium Earth Orbit)
Explanation: Global GNSS constellations typically operate in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at altitudes around 20,000 km.
What is the foundational mathematical technique employed for position calculations within most GNSS?
Answer: Trilateration
Explanation: Trilateration is the geometric method used to determine a position based on distances to known points.
What is the impact of Einstein's theory of general relativity on the precise timekeeping mechanisms of GPS systems?
Answer: It causes GPS satellite clocks to run faster than ground clocks by about 38 microseconds/day.
Explanation: Gravitational time dilation, as described by general relativity, causes satellite clocks to run faster, necessitating corrections.
What is the approximate orbital period of satellites comprising the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS)?
Answer: Approximately 12 hours
Explanation: GPS satellites have an orbital period of nearly 12 hours, specifically about 11 hours and 58 minutes.
What is the specific purpose of Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) in GNSS receivers?
Answer: To check the integrity of the satellite signals received by the receiver.
Explanation: RAIM allows receivers to autonomously detect potential errors in satellite signals, ensuring the integrity of the position solution.
What is the primary modulation technique employed in the Galileo Open Service signal?
Answer: CBOC (Composite Binary Offset Carrier)
Explanation: CBOC is the specific modulation scheme used for the Galileo Open Service signal.
GNSS-1 systems are characterized by their reliance on augmenting existing satellite navigation services, whereas GNSS-2 systems are designed to independently provide a full civilian satellite navigation service.
Answer: True
Explanation: This distinction defines the generational evolution of GNSS, moving from augmentation-based systems to fully independent services.
The earliest satellite navigation system, Transit, determined position based on the Doppler effect, not the principle of trilateration.
Answer: True
Explanation: Transit utilized the Doppler shift of radio signals, a different principle than the trilateration used in later GNSS.
The initial development of satellite navigation systems was primarily driven by military requirements, such as precision weapon delivery and troop location, rather than weather forecasting.
Answer: True
Explanation: Early satellite navigation systems were conceived and developed primarily to meet strategic military objectives.
What are the distinguishing features between GNSS-2 generation systems and their GNSS-1 predecessors?
Answer: GNSS-2 systems independently provide a full civilian navigation service, unlike GNSS-1 which combines existing systems with augmentation.
Explanation: GNSS-2 represents a leap towards fully independent civilian services, whereas GNSS-1 often involved augmenting existing military or combined systems.
Which satellite navigation system holds the distinction of being the first deployed by the United States military?
Answer: Transit
Explanation: The Transit system, operational in the 1960s, was the precursor to modern satellite navigation and the first such system deployed by the U.S. military.
On which fundamental physical principle did the Transit satellite navigation system base its position determination?
Answer: Doppler effect
Explanation: Transit utilized the Doppler shift of radio signals emitted by the satellite to calculate the receiver's position.
What was the principal impetus driving the initial development of satellite navigation systems?
Answer: Military applications like weapon delivery and troop location
Explanation: The initial development was heavily influenced by military needs for precise targeting and troop deployment.