GPS Battery

[Stephen2]

Are they solar powered? We constantly have to replenish batteries for our GPSr units, but what about those satellites in orbit? I can only guess that they are solar powered using a battery to charge for when they are away from the sun. I searched but really didn't find anything.

 

Assuming they are solar powered or other, what is the battery life expectancy for these?

 

When they stop working does the battery get replaced or is the whole satellite scrapped?

[+Team_CSG]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

 

Official sponsor of the Podcacher.com 2007 Geocaching tour

[Stephen2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

Thanks for the link. I didnt find any info on the questions i posted though.

 

Also why do all of your posts have an ad at the bottom of them?

[TeamCypherX]

GPS Satellites are like most other communications satellites. They have solar arrays (kind of like wings) that adjust to where the light is. I also imagine they carry an onboard battery should they be left in the dark for an extended period of time.

[+poohstickz]

Once a fortnight, the Energiser Bunny takes a trip round all of the satellites and replaces each of the 314159 AA batteries on each satellite with fresh ones.

 

For more practical details on some aspects of the management of the system, there's some more detail here: http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gps.html

Edited June 28, 2007 by poohstickz

[+trainlove]

replaces each of the 314159 AA batteries on each satellite with fresh ones.

 

This is funny.

One satellite that I recently worked on actually had scores of electronic assemblies that I created the test station for on it. There were 3000 Power Amplifiers and 1500 Dual Waveguide/Feedhorns. Each about the size of a fist and composed of an alloy of Aluminum and Graphite (yes that's right, very brittle stuff).