How frequently is the time on GPS satellites corrected for drift?

The time on GPS satellites is corrected for drift daily. This is necessary because GPS satellites operate using highly accurate atomic clocks; however, these clocks can experience small drifts over time due to relativistic effects and variations in the satellite's environment. By correcting the time daily, the system ensures that the signals transmitted by the satellites remain accurate, which is critical for the precision required in navigation and positioning applications.

Regular updates are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the global positioning system. If these corrections were made less frequently, such as weekly, monthly, or yearly, the potential for significant positional errors would increase, ultimately impacting users relying on GPS for navigation. Thus, daily corrections are essential for sustaining the GPS system's accuracy and reliability.