Wiktionary
n. Practice of calculating one's position and velocity using radio signals transmitted from space satellite as reference.
Wikipedia
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location ( longitude, latitude, and altitude/ elevation) to high precision (within a few metres) 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 (satellite tracking). The signals also allow the electronic receiver to calculate the current local time to high precision, which allows time synchronisation. Satnav systems operate independently of any telephonic or internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the positioning information generated.
A satellite navigation system with global coverage may be termed a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). only the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian GLONASS are global operational GNSSs. China is in the process of expanding its regional BeiDou Navigation Satellite System into the global Compass navigation system by 2020. The European Union's Galileo is a global GNSS in initial deployment phase, scheduled to be fully operational by 2020 at the earliest. India currently has satellite-based augmentation system, GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), which enhances the accuracy of NAVSTAR GPS and GLONASS positions. India has already launched the IRNSS, with an operational name NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), a constellation of satellites for navigation in and around the Indian Subcontinent. It is expected to be fully operational by June 2016. France and Japan are in the process of developing regional navigation systems as well.
Global coverage for each system is generally achieved by a satellite constellation of 20–30 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites spread between several orbital planes. The actual systems vary, but use orbital inclinations of >50° and orbital periods of roughly twelve hours (at an altitude of about ).
Usage examples of "satellite navigation".
He opened his chec, began to activate the radar, satellite navigation system, and the ring-laser gyro.
Used along with GPS satellite navigation, the MiG would never have to use his radar except for very long-range attacks-most enemies would never know he was there until he fired his missiles.
He unfolded the map, matched the coordinates with those on the screen--the Predator had its own Global Positioning Satellite navigation system and automatically told its operators where it was--and tapped the right section on the paper.
Eisly read the numbers off a computer readout keyed to the NAVSTAR satellite navigation system.
Dere's an onboard computer dat can keep her on course no matter what, an' a satellite navigation an' guidance system dat knows where it is to witin ten meters, anywheres on Eart.
As Roberts got back on the radio, Cazaux checked the portable GPS satellite navigation receiver's moving-map display.
With the loran navigation useless, Boos had relied on the Cheetah's satellite navigation equipment, which gave him an exact position fix every few hours.
The cheap groundcar that my novelist friend had rented lacked satellite navigation aids, and before long we were lost.
The loss of the satellite navigation unit meant they would have to position the contamination entry into the river by spotting nearby landmarks.