Does GPS or a compass work in low earth orbit?
465923
My guess is that they would still work-you would not get an accurate reading of your position though-what coordinate system or projection is space in? and the reading would have to bounce back into earth from a reading station and then back to the GPS units-\nWhich brings up another question? Would signals be lost in translation?\nI really don't know\nBut its gonna bother me.
636099
It is possible and there are many comm sats in orbits other than GEO.  The Iridium satellite phone network is in LEO (pretty close to polar orbits) although that isn't used to transmit TV and the Russians have satellites in Molniya orbits which are 12 hour orbits of about 63.4° inclination which have a ground track that causes the spacecraft to move very slowly with respect to Earth at apogee thereby allowing 3 satellites to give 24 hour coverage of a high latitude region that would be too far from the equator for a GEO satellite.\n\nThe problem with other orbits though is that TV broadcasting satellites tend to point at a large area of the ground and then just have their customers point their dish at a fixed point in the sky which wouldn't be possbile if they satellite were moving with respect to the ground.  Pretty much anything other than GEO is easier to reach than GEO although if you get a launch anamoly while the spacecraft is doing the burn to put it on course to GEO it'll probably be harder to get it back to LEO or into a Molniya orbit (and if it was launched from a low latitude site it would probably require a plane change for a Molniya orbit which takes a lot of propellant).
464463
Just set your reference point by yourself. Everywhere can be North in space.
124364
Well, in these days we can use satellite technology to map the globe, by getting information from both geological & geographical satellites, and combine that with GPS technology, you will get what you seek.
360987
Are you surprised that there are mobile phones with satellite navigation?\nI  hate to answer a question with another question, but you let me no choice
69305
GPS is short for global positioning system. GPS devices tell you your exact longitude and latitude. GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system developed and operated by the US Department of Defense (DOD).\nThe US military refers to it as NAVSTAR GPS. This is a satellite navigation system used for determining one's precise location and providing a highly accurate time reference almost anywhere on Earth or in Earth orbit. It uses an intermediate circular orbit (ICO) satellite constellation of at least 24 satellites.
1049196
Global positioning system
171260
GPS system uses a mathematical model called an ellipsoid to represent the shape of the earth. \n\nThe true shape of the earth is refered to as a geoid, but not easy to measure or represent mathematically. It is the shape the earth takes due to gravitational and rotational forces as opposed to the perfect sphere and is affected locally by denser material in spots.\n\nMean sea level is the old way of measuring things taking measurements over long periods of time to find the theoretical sea level if there were no waves or tidal forces. (you don't want to calculate how far above sea level a building is and have to figure out what time of day it is for the tidal adjustment.) \n\nThese are the three ways you can measure how high up a point on the earth is. Hope that helps.
525023
One system that works on spacecraft is inertial navigation, same as used on airliners.   You've got three accelerometers at right angles to each other.   If you integrate acceleration with respect to time you get velocity, and if you integrate it again you get distance travelled.   This is done for each of the three accelerometers, so you've got the distance travelled in the x,y and z directions.   You set the system at the beginning of your journey, where you know your location.   This is a dead-reckoning system; errors build up over time.This is less complicated to use than it sounds; all the maths is done by the machine.   In practice, on aircraft, there are three identical, completely independent INS.   They should all agree, but if they don't, you believe the two that do.   If all three are different, then you've got problems.   On a long space mission this system would be too inaccurate; aircraft flights only last a few hours, which isn't long enough for serious errors to build up.   An alternative for spacecraft is a refinement of the Global Positioning System, which uses the timing of radio signals from satellites whose positions are knowm.   Another radio navigation system that works in space is similar to the Distance Measuring Equipment used in aviation; you send out a radio signal which activated a transponder that sends a signal back.   The time taken for the return signal tells you how far you are from the transponder.
94918
This sytem was in place before GPS it was called Loran it was not as accurate. Really good thinking though Barbie, you are going places. Let me add that a system is in place now to locate cell phones in exactly the way you propose for emergency situations. However I believe in the future cell phones will incorporate conventional gps, as in an eperb and also for the user as location info.
405952
Ask around if any of your friends have a GPS system.  There is your example of a daily-life example of the theory of relativity.  The Global Positioning System would not be able to give you very accurate locations if it did not take the corrections to time and distance from both special, and general reletivity into account.  I am pretty sure that it is the first piece of public consumer-grade equiptment that relies on our understanding of General Relativity.
331125
No, areas like that use satellite. They have these portable satellite things that cost a fortune.\nhttp://www.thuraya.pl/inmarsat.html
774808
The compass needle point would try to point to the strongest northern pole of a magnetic field. Or between them if there are two.\n\nIf the compass was in space, but still close to the earth (just outside the atmosphere) it would likely still point to the earth's northern pole.\n\nIf you took it close the sun, say, it would point there since the sun's magnetic field is many times stronger than anything else in the solar system.\n\nOn the otherhand, if you took the compass into deep space, far away from anything, i.e. infinifty, it would not point at anything in particular since there is no magnetic field close by.
514325
When a satelite is launched, it is put in a eliptical orbit.  Depending upon the country which launches, then it is pushed to a particular geo-static position to meet the requirements of that country.  In the geo-static position, it would appear as if it is not moving since earth also moves along the same path.
967832
a variety of different ways. there are vhf transmitters all over the world for navigation. satellite navigation is becoming more popular. all aircraft in the u.s. are also equipped with a plain old compass also.
699104
Compass needles align themselves with the magnetic field directions. On earth, the magnetic field direction is always from the north pole to the south pole (approximately), hence the compass shows north and south directions.\n\nThus, if in a particular location in space there is a magnetic field, the compass will align itself with it, otherwise, if there is no magnetic field around (most likely in your assumption of space) the needle will not try to show any direction, as you turn the compass, the neddle will freely turn with it.
499183
A magnetic compass works because the Earth is like a giant magnet, surrounded by a huge magnetic field. The Earth has two magnetic poles which lie near the North and South poles. The magnetic field of the Earth causes a magnetized 'needle' of iron or steel to swing into a north-south position if it is hung from a thread, or if it is stuck through a straw or piece of wood floating in a bowl of water.