重力卫星星载GPS简化动力学精密定轨

利用GRACE和SWARM重力卫星星载GPS观测数据,基于简化动力学方法进行精密定轨,通过相位观测值残差分析、重叠轨道对比和科学轨道对比进行轨道精度检核。GRACE和SWARM卫星相位观测值残差RMS值稳定在6 mm左右,重叠轨道对比差值RMS在径向、切向和法向均优于1.24 cm;通过与GFZ和ESA提供的GRACE卫星与SWARM卫星精密轨道对比,GRACE卫星简化动力学轨道在R,T,N方向的轨道精度分别达到1.3 cm、2.1 cm和1.3 cm;SWARM卫星简化动力学轨道在径向、切向和法向的轨道精度分别达到0.8 cm、1.3 cm和1.6 cm。实验表明,基于简化动力学方法,GRACE和SWARM卫星定轨精度均到达厘米级。     

Jason-2卫星星载GPS数据cm级精密定轨

Jason-2卫星为测高卫星,需要cm级的轨道精度。利用Jason-2星载GPS数据,采用简化动力学法进行了Jason-2卫星精密定轨。对简化动力学轨道进行重叠轨道对比,径向精度达到1.19cm;与CLASS提供的POE结果对比,径向精度达到5.54cm;与SLR数据进行对比,整体精度达到6.63cm。因此,简化动力学轨道达到了cm级要求,定轨精度良好。     

SWARM卫星简化动力学厘米级精密定轨

联合星载GPS双频观测值与简化的动力学模型,在卫星运动方程中引入适当的伪随机脉冲参数,对SWARM卫星进行精密定轨。采用星载GPS相位观测值残差、重叠轨道以及与外部轨道对比等3种方法对SWARM卫星简化动力学定轨结果进行检核。结果表明:SWARM星载GPS相位观测值残差RMS为7~10mm;径向、切向以及法向6h重叠轨道差值RMS均在1cm左右,3个方向均无明显的系统误差。通过与欧空局(ESA)发布的精密轨道进行对比分析,径向轨道差值RMS为2~5cm,切向轨道差值RMS为2~5cm,法向轨道差值RMS为2~4cm,3D轨道差值RMS为4~7cm;SWARM-B定轨精度优于SWARM-A与SWARM-C。因此,采用简化动力学法与本文提供的定轨策略进行SWARM卫星精密定轨是切实可行的,定轨结果良好且稳定,定轨精度达到厘米级。     

Swarm系列卫星非差运动学厘米级精密定轨

采用2015年5月24日—30日的Swarm星载GPS双频观测数据,基于Melbourne-Wübbena(MW)和消电离层线性组合,在精密单点定位技术的基础上,采用批处理最小二乘估计法对不同轨道高度的Swarm系列卫星进行非差运动学精密定轨。利用星载GPS相位观测值残差、与欧空局发布的简化动力学轨道对比,以及SLR检核3种方法对Swarm系列卫星非差运动学定轨结果进行精度评估。结果表明:①Swarm系列卫星星载GPS相位观测值残差RMS为6~7 mm;②与欧空局发布的简化动力学轨道进行求差,径向、切向及法向轨道差值RMS为2~4 cm;③与欧空局发布的运动学轨道进行求差,径向、切向及法向轨道差值RMS为1~2 cm;④SLR检核结果表明Swarm-A/B/C卫星轨道精度为3~4 cm。因此,采用非差运动学定轨方法与本文提供的定轨策略进行Swarm系列卫星精密定轨是切实可行的,定轨精度为厘米级。     

基于星载GPS的低轨卫星简化动力学定轨研究

利用GRACE卫星2015年1月1日至7日的星载GPS观测数据,基于卫星简化动力学定轨方法和事后批处理定轨模式,利用24小时弧段进行精密定轨。采用多种手段进行评价定轨精度,通过分析,观测值定轨残差稳定在7mm,与德国地学中心(GFZ)发布的事后精密轨道在径向、切向、法向的RMS值分别是3cm,2cm,3cm,利用SLR检核轨道精度优于4cm。结果表明,使用简化动力学定轨可实现低轨卫星的cm级高精度定轨。     

利用星载GPS数据确定厘米级Jason-1卫星精密轨道

利用Jason-1卫星星载GPS实测数据,通过非差简化动力学定轨的方法,计算Jason-1卫星2003年1月3日至23日的轨道,并与JPL确定的GPS简化动力学轨道进行对比。结果表明,简化动力法使Jason-1卫星的径向定轨精度可优于±2.5 cm。     

JASON-3卫星星载GPS厘米级精密定轨

针对JASON-3卫星精密定轨方法和轨道精度检核的关键问题,该文利用4d的星载GPS观测数据,基于简化动力学定轨方法实现JASON-3精密定轨,并提出采用内部符合和外部符合两种方法对解算轨道进行检核。通过重叠轨道对比,径向、切向和法向轨道精度均在0.5cm左右;将解算的简化动力学轨道与DORIS国际服务组织(IDS)的多任务精密卫星测高、卫星定轨和定位地面部分提供的SSA精密轨道进行对比,4d的轨道精度在径向、切向和法向分别达1.57～2.18cm、2.22～3.55cm和2.60～2.89cm。实验结果表明,JASON-3测高卫星的简化动力学轨道精度达厘米级,满足该卫星对轨道精度的要求。     

CHAMP卫星cm级精密定轨

在卫星定位导航数据综合处理软件（PANDA软件）的基础上，解算了2002年年积日126～131d CHAMP卫星的精密轨道，并通过与GFZ精密轨道的比较、GPS观测值的验后残差和SLR观测值检验等3种方式进行了轨道精度的评估。结果显示，本文的轨道精度在径向为4～5cm，切向和法向为6～8cm。     

基于星载GPS数据的GRACE卫星动力学法定轨

利用GRACEA卫星的星载GPS观测数据,采用非差动力学低轨卫星定轨方法,解算了2012年1月11日至18日的卫星轨道,将得到的结果与GFZ发布的RSO轨道进行对比分析,并通过SLR观测数据进行轨道的校验。结果表明：定轨精度满足低轨卫星精密定轨的要求,与RSO轨道比较,在X、Y、Z方向的均方根误差的平均值分别为4．7cm、4．3cm和4．9cm;通过SLR观测数据进行校验,残差平均值为-1．6cm,均方根误差为4．7cm．     

星间单差模糊度固定的低轨卫星精密定轨精度分析

高精度、高可靠性的卫星轨道是实现低轨卫星精密应用的重要前提,而模糊度固定技术是提高卫星定轨精度的关键途径。研究了基于整数钟的星间单差模糊度固定原理和方法,并利用2019年4月—5月的两颗GRACE-FO（gravity recovery and climate experiment follow on）卫星数据（GRACE-C/D）系统评估了固定解对低轨卫星简化动力学和运动学定轨的精度提升效果。结果表明,两颗卫星简化动力学和运动学定轨的宽巷模糊度固定率均达到99%,而窄巷模糊度固定率在95%左右。对于简化动力学定轨,GRACE-C/D固定解轨道的重叠轨道的3D均方根误差（root mean square error, RMSE）分别从7.1 mm和7.4 mm减小到了4.2 mm和3.6 mm;卫星激光测距（satellite laser ranging, SLR）残差标准差（standard deviation, STD）分别从15.9 mm和14.4 mm降低到了10.8 mm和11.0 mm,精度提升了32%和24%;K波段测距残差RMSE从8.0 mm减小到2.9 mm,进一步表明固定解还能有效提升低轨卫星间相对位置精度。对于运动学定轨,与精密科学轨道产品互差3D RMSE,浮点解分别为37.5 mm和36.4 mm,固定解分别为27.7 mm和25.5 mm,精度提升约28%,SLR残差STD也减小了约20%。     

Initial results of precise orbit and clock determination for COMPASS navigation satellite system

The development of the COMPASS satellite system is introduced, and the regional tracking network and data availability are described. The precise orbit determination strategy of COMPASS satellites is presented. Data of June 2012 are processed. The obtained orbits are evaluated by analysis of post-fit residuals, orbit overlap comparison and SLR (satellite laser ranging) validation. The RMS (root mean square) values of post-fit residuals for one month’s data are smaller than 2.0 cm for ionosphere-free phase measurements and 2.6 m for ionosphere-free code observations. The 48-h orbit overlap comparison shows that the RMS values of differences in the radial component are much smaller than 10 cm and those of the cross-track component are smaller than 20 cm. The SLR validation shows that the overall RMS of observed minus computed residuals is 68.5 cm for G01 and 10.8 cm for I03. The static and kinematic PPP solutions are produced to further evaluate the accuracy of COMPASS orbit and clock products. The static daily COMPASS PPP solutions achieve an accuracy of better than 1 cm in horizontal and 3 cm in vertical. The accuracy of the COMPASS kinematic PPP solutions is within 1–2 cm in the horizontal and 4–7 cm in the vertical. In addition, we find that the COMPASS kinematic solutions are generally better than the GPS ones for the selected location. Furthermore, the COMPASS/GPS combinations significantly improve the accuracy of GPS only PPP solutions. The RMS values are basically smaller than 1 cm in the horizontal components and 3–4 cm in the vertical component.     

GOCE: precise orbit determination for the entire mission

The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first Earth explorer core mission of the European Space Agency. It was launched on March 17, 2009 into a Sun-synchronous dusk-dawn orbit and re-entered into the Earth’s atmosphere on November 11, 2013. The satellite altitude was between 255 and 225 km for the measurement phases. The European GOCE Gravity consortium is responsible for the Level 1b to Level 2 data processing in the frame of the GOCE High-level processing facility (HPF). The Precise Science Orbit (PSO) is one Level 2 product, which was produced under the responsibility of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern within the HPF. This PSO product has been continuously delivered during the entire mission. Regular checks guaranteed a high consistency and quality of the orbits. A correlation between solar activity, GPS data availability and quality of the orbits was found. The accuracy of the kinematic orbit primarily suffers from this. Improvements in modeling the range corrections at the retro-reflector array for the SLR measurements were made and implemented in the independent SLR validation for the GOCE PSO products. The satellite laser ranging (SLR) validation finally states an orbit accuracy of 2.42 cm for the kinematic and 1.84 cm for the reduced-dynamic orbits over the entire mission. The common-mode accelerations from the GOCE gradiometer were not used for the official PSO product, but in addition to the operational HPF work a study was performed to investigate to which extent common-mode accelerations improve the reduced-dynamic orbit determination results. The accelerometer data may be used to derive realistic constraints for the empirical accelerations estimated for the reduced-dynamic orbit determination, which already improves the orbit quality. On top of that the accelerometer data may further improve the orbit quality if realistic constraints and state-of-the-art background models such as gravity field and ocean tide models are used for the reduced-dynamic orbit determination.     

Evaluation of CHAMP satellite orbit with SLR measurements

The technique of Evaluating CHAMP satellite orbit with SLR measurements is presented. As an independent evaluation of the orbit solution, SLR data observed from January 1 to 16, 2002 are processed to compute the residuals after fixing the GFZ's post science orbits solutions. The SLR residuals are computed as the differences of the SLR measurements minus the corresponding distances between the SLR station and the GPS-derived orbit positions. On the basis of the SLR residuals analysis, it is found that the accuracy of GFZ' s spost science orbits is better than 10 cm and that there is no systematic error in GFZ's post science orbits.     

Initial results of centralized autonomous orbit determination of the new-generation BDS satellites with inter-satellite link measurements

Autonomous orbit determination is the ability of navigation satellites to estimate the orbit parameters on-board using inter-satellite link (ISL) measurements. This study mainly focuses on data processing of the ISL measurements as a new measurement type and its application on the centralized autonomous orbit determination of the new-generation Beidou navigation satellite system satellites for the first time. The ISL measurements are dual one-way measurements that follow a time division multiple access (TDMA) structure. The ranging error of the ISL measurements is less than 0.25 ns. This paper proposes a derivation approach to the satellite clock offsets and the geometric distances from TDMA dual one-way measurements without a loss of accuracy. The derived clock offsets are used for time synchronization, and the derived geometry distances are used for autonomous orbit determination. The clock offsets from the ISL measurements are consistent with the L-band two-way satellite, and time–frequency transfer clock measurements and the detrended residuals vary within 0.5 ns. The centralized autonomous orbit determination is conducted in a batch mode on a ground-capable server for the feasibility study. Constant hardware delays are present in the geometric distances and become the largest source of error in the autonomous orbit determination. Therefore, the hardware delays are estimated simultaneously with the satellite orbits. To avoid uncertainties in the constellation orientation, a ground anchor station that “observes” the satellites with on-board ISL payloads is introduced into the orbit determination. The root-mean-square values of orbit determination residuals are within 10.0 cm, and the standard deviation of the estimated ISL hardware delays is within 0.2 ns. The accuracy of the autonomous orbits is evaluated by analysis of overlap comparison and the satellite laser ranging (SLR) residuals and is compared with the accuracy of the L-band orbits. The results indicate that the radial overlap differences between the autonomous orbits are less than 15.0 cm for the inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites and less than 10.0 cm for the MEO satellites. The SLR residuals are approximately 15.0 cm for the IGSO satellites and approximately 10.0 cm for the MEO satellites, representing an improvement over the L-band orbits.     

TOPEX/Poseidon orbit error assessment

This paper discusses the accuracy of TOPEX/Poseidon orbits computed at Delft University, Section Space Research & Technology (DUT/SSR&T), from several types of tracking data,i.e. SLR, DORIS, and GPS. To quantify the orbit error, three schemes are presented. The first scheme relies on the direct altimeter observations and the covariance of the JGM-2 gravity field. The second scheme is based on crossover difference residuals while the third scheme uses the differences of dynamic orbit solutions with the GPS reduced-dynamic orbit. All three schemes give comparable results and indicate that the radial orbit error of TOPEX/Poseidon is 3–4 cm. From the orbit comparisons with GPS reduced dynamic, both the along-track and cross-track errors of the dynamic orbit solutions were found to be within 10–15 cm.     

The impact of accelerometry on CHAMP orbit determination

 The contribution of the STAR accelerometer to the CHAMP orbit precision is evaluated and quantified by means of the following results: orbital fit to the satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations, GPS reduced-dynamic vs SLR dynamic orbit comparisons, and comparison of the measured to the modeled non-gravitational accelerations (atmospheric drag in particular). In each of the four test periods in 2001, five CHAMP arcs of 2 days' length were analyzed. The mean RMS-of-fit of the SLR observations of the orbits computed with STAR data or the non-gravitational force model were 11 and 24 cm, respectively. If the accelerometer calibration parameters are not known at least at the few percent level, the SLR orbit fit deteriorates. This was tested by applying a 10% error to the along-track scale factor of the accelerometer, which increased the SLR RMS-of-fit on average to 17 cm. Reference orbits were computed employing the reduced-dynamic technique with GPS tracking data. This technique yields the most accurate orbit positions thanks to the estimation of a large number of empirical accelerations, which compensate for dynamic modeling errors. Comparison of the SLR orbits, computed with STAR data or the non-gravitational force model, to the GPS-based orbits showed that the SLR orbits employing accelerometer observations are twice as accurate. Finally, comparison of measured to modeled accelerations showed that the level of geomagnetic activity is highly correlated with the atmospheric drag model error, and that the largest errors occur around the geomagnetic poles. Received: 7 May 2002 / Accepted: 18 November 2002 Correspondence to: S. Bruinsma Acknowledgments. The TIGCM results were obtained from the CEDAR database. This study was supported by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The referees are thanked for their helpful remarks and suggestions.