What is the altitude of satellites in the Global Positioning System?

The altitude of satellites in the Global Positioning System (GPS) is approximately 12,000 miles above the Earth's surface. This altitude allows GPS satellites to maintain a clear line of sight with receivers on the ground. It is essential for accurate positioning, as it provides a wide coverage area and ensures that signals from multiple satellites can be received simultaneously by GPS receivers. This height also allows satellites to orbit the Earth in a medium Earth orbit (MEO), which is ideal for the functionality required for GPS technology, balancing factors such as orbit period and signal strength.