How many GPS Satellites orbit the earth ?
There are just under 30 navigational satellites orbit the Earth and more may be added in the future. Each satellite makes one Earth orbit every 12 hours. The satellite’s orbit repeats almost the same ground track (as the earth turns beneath them) once each day. The orbit altitude is such that the satellites repeat the same track and configuration over any point approximately each 24 hours (4 minutes earlier each day). There are six orbital planes (with nominally four Space Vehicles in each), equally spaced (60 degrees apart), and inclined at about fifty-five degrees with respect to the equatorial plane. This constellation provides the user with between five and eight Space Vehicles visible from any point on the earth.
