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8NAL_LOVER t1_ja13g95 wrote

I don't think the satellites periodically reset their clocks. Rather, I think they are just programmed with formulas that constantly counter the relativistic effects. Otherwise the resets would have to happen quite frequently (literally every two minutes). They need to compensate for ~8000 nanoseconds per day, but need to stay within ~10 nanoseconds to work.

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Engival t1_ja2u5iv wrote

So, is this the answer to OP's question?

(roughly) 8000 nanoseconds * 365 = 2.92 ms per year?

So the oldest part of the ISS is like 0.075 seconds younger?

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wosmo t1_ja2sr20 wrote

I read that if relativity wasn't corrected for, GPS would accumulate an error of 10km per day. Seeing those nanoseconds translated into the functional accuracy we depend upon, really his this home for me.

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