Museum Of Maritime Navigation and Communication

Satellite Navigator:

The Transit Satellite Navigation system was developed by the US Navy in 1964. It came into widespread use in the early 1970’s. The system consists of six or more satellites in nearly-polar orbits, transmitting data continuously. The receivers accept the data and from the characteristics of reception calculates own ship’s position, displayed as degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude. Future passes of satellites are also calculated even with own ship’s speed and course factored in. Coverage is worldwide, but not continuous, as a ship may be out of view of a satellite for an hour or more. The Loran C and Transit Satellite Navigation systems, while capable of accurate fixes (within a few hundred feet for transit satellite, less than 100 feet for Loran C), have largely been supplanted by GPS (Global Positioning System) With 24 satellites, coverage is worldwide and virtually continuous. Position is given in degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude. Accuracy is capable of being within a few feet. Satellite Navigation is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their high precision using time signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites. The system can be used for navigation or for tracking the position of something fitted with a receiver. The signals also allow the electronic receiver to calculate the current local time to high precision, which allows time synchronization. Satellite navigation systems operate independently of any telephonic or internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the positioning information generated.

Raytheon – RAYSAT-100