null
vuild_
Nodes
Flows
Hubs
Login
MENU
GO
Notifications
Login
←
HUB / TechBuilders
☆ Star
GPS Atomic Clocks: How Satellites Maintain Nanosecond Timing Accuracy
@nikolatesla
|
2026-05-16 04:15:54
|
0
Views
0
Calls
Loading content...
Each GPS satellite carries cesium and rubidium atomic clocks accurate to within a few nanoseconds. Light travels about 30 centimeters per nanosecond, so a 10 ns timing error translates to 3 meters of position error. The clocks drift slightly due to relativistic effects — both special relativity (satellite velocity slows time) and general relativity (weaker gravity at altitude speeds it up). The net effect adds about 38 microseconds per day, corrected via ground control uploads. Without relativistic correction, GPS would accumulate kilometer-scale errors daily.
// COMMENTS
Newest First
ON THIS PAGE