Design and validation of broadcast ephemeris for low Earth orbit satellites

Low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations have potentialities to augment global navigation satellite systems for better service performance. The prerequisite is to provide the broadcast ephemerides that meet the accuracy requirement for navigation and positioning. In this study, the Kepler ephemeris model is chosen as the basis of LEO broadcast ephemeris design for backward compatibility and simplicity. To eliminate the singularity caused by the smaller eccentricity of LEO satellites compared to MEO satellites, non-singular elements are introduced for curve fitting of parameters and then transformed to Kepler elements to assure the algorithm of ephemeris computation remains unchanged for the user. We analyze the variation characteristics of LEO orbital elements and establish suitable broadcast ephemeris models considering fit accuracy, number of parameters, fit interval, and orbital altitude. The results of the fit accuracy for different fit intervals and orbital altitudes suggest that the optimal parameter selections are \((Crs3,Crc3)\), \((Crs3,Crc3, \, \dot{a},\dot{n})\) and \(\left( {Crs3,Crc3, \, \dot{a},\dot{n}, \, \ddot{i},\ddot{a}} \right)\), i.e., adding two, four or six parameters to the GPS 16-parameter ephemeris. When adding four parameters, the fit accuracy can be improved by about one order of magnitude compared to the GPS 16-parameter ephemeris model, and fit errors of less than 10 cm can be achieved with 20-min fit interval for a 400–1400 km orbital altitude. In addition, the effects of the number of parameters, fit interval, and orbit altitude on fit accuracy are discussed in detail. The validation with four LEO satellites in orbit also confirms the effectiveness of proposed models.     

北斗卫星导航系统广播星历精度分析

针对系统地评估我国北斗卫星导航系统广播星历精度与保障实时导航定位服务的需求,对BDS广播星历提供的卫星轨道、钟差以及用户测距误差(URE)的精度性能进行分析,统计了2015年连续4周全部BDS在轨健康卫星的广播星历各项精度指标值。分析结果表明:BDS的MEO和IGSO卫星轨道精度优于GEO卫星结果,且径向精度优于法向和切向精度;BDS搭载的国产星载铷钟卫星钟差序列相对比较稳定,其均方根误差优于4ns;GEO/IGSO卫星的用户距离误差(URE)在6m以内,MEO的URE优于20m。研究结果对北斗系统的建设、后期的发展和用户市场的拓展,都具有重要的参考价值。     

北斗三号全球卫星导航系统的广播星历精度评估

为了及时评估北斗三号全球卫星导航系统（BDS-3）广播星历的精度,本文基于2018年3月10—22日和2019年7月2—14日的BDS-2、BDS-3广播星历,以及武汉大学发布的精密星历数据,从北斗卫星的星历误差、轨道误差和空间信号测距精度（SISRE）3个方面进行了全面比较与分析。结果表明：BDS-3的广播星历星历误差的RMSE基本优于1.5 m,BDS-2的GEO、IGSO和MEO卫星的广播卫星星历误差的RMSE分别为3.0、3.0、2.0 m;BDS-3的轨道误差RMSE基本优于1.0 m,其中径向R方向的精度高于切向T和法线N方向,分别为0.1、1.0、0.5 m,BDS-2在R、T、N 3个方向上的精度分别为1、3、3 m;BDS-3广播星历SISRE的RMSE基本优于0.25 m,BDS-2的GEO、IGSO和MEO卫星的SISRE分别优于0.5、2.0、0.5 m。本文的结果整体上反映出BDS-3信号稳定且精度逐渐提升。     

BDS-3不同类型卫星对BDS-2伪距定位性能提升定量分析

针对北斗三号（BDS-3）不同类型卫星对北斗二号（BDS-2）伪距单点定位性能的影响,基于iGMAS机构发布的跟踪站实测数据,分析了BDS-3地球静止轨道（GEO）、倾斜地球同步轨道（IGSO）、中圆轨道（MEO）、全部BDS-3卫星对BDS-2卫星可见数、位置精度因子（PDOP）值以及伪距单点定位精度的影响．经研究发现,BDS-3不同卫星对BDS-2卫星可见数、卫星空间几何结构以及伪距单点定位精度提升程度不同,MEO卫星的提升程度优于IGSO卫星和GEO卫星,三种类型卫星对BDS-2定位性能提升量之和与全部BDS-3卫星对BDS-2定位性能提升量相当．      

Beidou satellite maneuver thrust force estimation for precise orbit determination

Beidou satellites, especially geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites, need to be frequently maneuvered to keep them in position due to various perturbations. The satellite ephemerides are not available during such maneuver periods. Precise estimation of thrust forces acting on satellites would provide continuous ephemerides during maneuver periods and could significantly improve orbit accuracy immediately after the maneuver. This would increase satellite usability for both real-time and post-processing applications. Using 1 year of observations from the Multi-GNSS Experiment network (MGEX), we estimate the precise maneuver periods for all Beidou satellites and the thrust forces. On average, GEO and IGSO satellites in the Beidou constellation are maneuvered 12 and 2 times, respectively, each year. For GEO satellites, the maneuvers are mainly in-plane, while out-of-plane maneuvers are observed for IGSO satellites and a small number of GEO satellites. In most cases, the Beidou satellite maneuver periods last 15–25 min, but can be as much as 2 h for the few out-of-plane maneuvers of GEO satellites. The thrust forces acting on Beidou satellites are normally in the order of 0.1–0.7 mm/s². This can cause changes in velocity of GEO/IGSO satellites in the order of several decimeters per second. In the extreme cases of GEO out-of-plane maneuvers, very large cross-track velocity changes are observed, namely 28 m/s, induced by 5.4 mm/s² thrust forces. Also, we demonstrate that by applying the estimated thrust forces in orbit integration, the orbit errors can be estimated at decimeter level in along- and cross-track directions during normal maneuver periods, and 1–2 m in all the orbital directions for the enormous GEO out-of-plane maneuver.     

BDS卫星星内多径及其对宽巷FCB解算的影响分析

针对BDS卫星的伪距星内多径(SIMP)问题,提出和强调了在进行SIMP建模时应该采用天底角而非高度角作为自变量,这样获得的模型才能用于不同高程的接收机。收集全球分布的iGMAS和MGEX监测站数据,以天底角为自变量构建了北斗IGSO和MEO两类卫星B1、B2和B3频点的SIMP分段线性模型。利用FY3C星载北斗数据对北斗GEO、IGSO和MEO的SIMP作进一步分析。结果表明,当天底角小于7°时,GEO和IGSO卫星的SIMP非常接近,对B2频点尤其明显。这也许预示着可以将地面数据获得的IGSO卫星的SIMP模型用于GEO卫星。同时还发现在天底角小于12°(MEO)和7°(IGSO)时,所得到的SIMP估值与地面数据获得的模型有非常好的一致性。在此基础上,采用MGEX全球监测网数据进行宽巷小数周偏差(FCB)解算试验,结果表明,经过SIMP改正后,各颗卫星的星端宽巷FCB序列的重复性都有显著提高,改进幅度都超过了60%。具体的,IGSO和MEO的星端FCB重复精度小于0.05周;采用IGSO卫星的SIMP模型对GEO卫星进行改正后,C01和C02星的FCB重复精度分别达到0.023和0.068周。     

北斗二号对北斗三号伪距单点定位精度影响分析

针对当前BDS-2/BDS-3组合定位性能,基于国际GNSS服务(IGS)跟踪站对BDS-2/BDS-3的组合定位实测数据,分析了北斗二号(BDS-2)不同类型卫星对北斗三号(BDS-3)卫星B1I、B3I与B1I/B3I双频组合伪距单点定位精度的影响. 经研究发现,BDS-2不同类型星座卫星都能有效改善BDS-3卫星可见数与卫星空间几何构型,地球静止轨道(GEO)卫星、倾斜地球同步轨道(IGSO)卫星、中圆地球轨道(MEO)卫星使BDS-3单频和双频伪距单点定位精度的提升在20%以内,而全部BDS-2卫星使BDS-3单频和双频伪距单点定位精度的提升在30%以内,整体提升关系为:BDS-2全部卫星>IGSO卫星>GEO卫星>MEO卫星.      

A model comparison in least squares collocation

The well known least squares collocation model (I) $$\ell = Ax + \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} O \\ I \\ \end{array} } \right]^T \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} s \\ {s' + n} \\ \end{array} } \right]$$ is compared with the model (II) $$\ell = Ax + \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} R \\ I \\ \end{array} } \right]^T \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} s \\ n \\ \end{array} } \right]$$ The basic differences of these two models in the framework of physical geodesy are pointed out by analyzing the validity of the equation $$s' = Rs$$ that transforms one model into the other, for different cases. For clarification purposes least squares filtering, prediction and collocation are discussed separately. In filtering problems the coefficient matrix R becomes the unit matrix and by this the two models become identical. For prediction and collocation problems the relation s′=Rs is only fulfilled in the global limit where s becomes either a continuous function on the earth or an intinite set of spherical harmonic coefficients. Applying Model (II), we see that for any finite dimension of s the operator equations of physical geodesy are approximated by a finite matrix relation whereas in Model (I) the operator equations are applied in their correct form on a continuous, approximate function \(\tilde s\) .     

倾斜地球同步轨道卫星对北斗三频单历元基线解算的影响分析

针对倾斜地球同步轨道（IGSO）是特殊的地球同步圆轨道,轨道稳定性较好,可以覆盖高纬度地区的特点,研究了北斗三频单历元基线解算中IGSO卫星对其精度的影响。采用内蒙古地区和安徽地区的两条短基线,在GEO和MEO卫星的基础上,按可见性增加一颗IGSO卫星参与解算。实验结果表明:增加1~3颗可见性较好的IGSO卫星时,模糊度解算成功率最高,且定位精度最佳;增加4~5颗IGSO卫星时,模糊度解算成功率和定位精度相对于1~3颗均有所下降。      

Contemporary deformation in the Kashmir–Himachal,Garhwal and Kumaon Himalaya: significant insights from 1995–2008 GPS time series

We present new insights on the time-averaged surface velocities, convergence and extension rates along arc-normal transects in Kumaon, Garhwal and Kashmir–Himachal regions in the Indian Himalaya from 13 years of high-precision Global Positioning System (GPS) time series (1995–2008) derived from GPS data at 14 GPS permanent and 42 campaign stations between $29.5{-}35^{\circ }\hbox {N}$ and $76{-}81^{\circ }\hbox {E}$ . The GPS surface horizontal velocities vary significantly from the Higher to Lesser Himalaya and are of the order of 30 to 48 mm/year NE in ITRF 2005 reference frame, and 17 to 2 mm/year SW in an India fixed reference frame indicating that this region is accommodating less than 2 cm/year of the India–Eurasia plate motion ( ${\sim }4~\hbox {cm/year}$ ). The total arc-normal shortening varies between ${\sim }10{-}14~\hbox {mm/year}$ along the different transects of the northwest Himalayan wedge, between the Indo-Tsangpo suture to the north and the Indo-Gangetic foreland to the south indicating high strain accumulation in the Himalayan wedge. This convergence is being accommodated differentially along the arc-normal transects; ${\sim } 5{-}10~\hbox {mm/year}$ in Lesser Himalaya and 3–4 mm/year in Higher Himalaya south of South Tibetan Detachment. Most of the convergence in the Lesser Himalaya of Garhwal and Kumaon is being accommodated just south of the Main Central Thrust fault trace, indicating high strain accumulation in this region which is also consistent with the high seismic activity in this region. In addition, for the first time an arc-normal extension of ${\sim }6~\hbox {mm/year}$ has also been observed in the Tethyan Himalaya of Kumaon. Inverse modeling of GPS-derived surface deformation rates in Garhwal and Kumaon Himalaya using a single dislocation indicate that the Main Himalayan Thrust is locked from the surface to a depth of ${\sim }15{-}20~\hbox {km}$ over a width of 110 km with associated slip rate of ${\sim }16{-}18~\hbox {mm/year}$ . These results indicate that the arc-normal rates in the Northwest Himalaya have a complex deformation pattern involving both convergence and extension, and rigorous seismo-tectonic models in the Himalaya are necessary to account for this pattern. In addition, the results also gave an estimate of co-seismic and post-seismic motion associated with the 1999 Chamoli earthquake, which is modeled to derive the slip and geometry of the rupture plane.     

北斗卫星轨道预报精度分析及改进

针对北斗GEO、IGSO、MEO的3种卫星类型和动态偏航、零偏航两种姿态控制模式,进行了以ECOM光压模型为基础的轨道预报精度分析。确定了北斗3类卫星的短期、中期、长期预报光压参数选择策略。采用光压参数修正法,通过对北斗卫星光压参数长期变化规律建模,有效提升了地影段轨道长期预报精度。研究结果可同时服务于北斗卫星轨道确定及历书参数生成。     

北斗三号全球卫星导航系统空间信号精度评估

针对北斗三号 (BDS-3)正式开通后的空间信号精度情况,选取2020-08-01—2021-07-31共 1 a的混合广播星历数据,以德国波茨坦地学研究中心(GFZ)和武汉大学国际GNSS服务(IGS)数据中心(WHU)提供的精密星历为参考分别从轨道精度、钟差精度和空间信号测距误差(SISRE)来进行BDS-3的空间信号精度评估. 结果表明:BDS-3的轨道精度在径向(R)、切向(A)、法向(C)三个方向上分别优于0.100 m、0.405 m、0.547 m,钟差精度优于1.926 ns,仅受轨道影响的SISRE (orb)为0.134 m,SISRE为0.612 m. 地球静止轨道(GEO)卫星的SISRE为1.137 m,倾斜地球同步轨道(IGSO)卫星和中圆地球轨道(MEO)卫星的SISRE相比GEO卫星分别减少36.3%、51.3%.      

Multi-GNSS phase delay estimation and PPP ambiguity resolution: GPS,BDS, GLONASS,Galileo

This paper focuses on the precise point positioning (PPP) ambiguity resolution (AR) using the observations acquired from four systems: GPS, BDS, GLONASS, and Galileo (GCRE). A GCRE four-system uncalibrated phase delay (UPD) estimation model and multi-GNSS undifferenced PPP AR method were developed in order to utilize the observations from all systems. For UPD estimation, the GCRE-combined PPP solutions of the globally distributed MGEX and IGS stations are performed to obtain four-system float ambiguities and then UPDs of GCRE satellites can be precisely estimated from these ambiguities. The quality of UPD products in terms of temporal stability and residual distributions is investigated for GPS, BDS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites, respectively. The BDS satellite-induced code biases were corrected for GEO, IGSO, and MEO satellites before the UPD estimation. The UPD results of global and regional networks were also evaluated for Galileo and BDS, respectively. As a result of the frequency-division multiple-access strategy of GLONASS, the UPD estimation was performed using a network of homogeneous receivers including three commonly used GNSS receivers (TRIMBLE NETR9, JAVAD TRE_G3TH DELTA, and LEICA). Data recorded from 140 MGEX and IGS stations for a 30-day period in January in 2017 were used to validate the proposed GCRE UPD estimation and multi-GNSS dual-frequency PPP AR. Our results show that GCRE four-system PPP AR enables the fastest time to first fix (TTFF) solutions and the highest accuracy for all three coordinate components compared to the single and dual system. An average TTFF of 9.21 min with \(7{^{\circ }}\) cutoff elevation angle can be achieved for GCRE PPP AR, which is much shorter than that of GPS (18.07 min), GR (12.10 min), GE (15.36 min) and GC (13.21 min). With observations length of 10 min, the positioning accuracy of the GCRE fixed solution is 1.84, 1.11, and 1.53 cm, while the GPS-only result is 2.25, 1.29, and 9.73 cm for the east, north, and vertical components, respectively. When the cutoff elevation angle is increased to \(30{^{\circ }}\), the GPS-only PPP AR results are very unreliable, while 13.44 min of TTFF is still achievable for GCRE four-system solutions.     

Galileo系统服务中断前后广播星历精度对比分析

2019年7月中旬发生的Galileo服务中断事件,在整个卫星导航发展史上都是较为罕见的重大事故。本文选取Galileo服务中断前后的广播星历,从纵向（利用中断前后29 d的数据）和横向（与其他主要系统进行对比）两个维度,通过卫星位置、速度、钟差、空间信号测距误差4个方面,对中断事件前后广播星历计算精度进行了较为全面的分析。结果表明：从纵向维度来看,服务中断前,Galileo健康卫星数发生剧烈变化,卫星钟差精度普遍发散,卫星位置、速度精度未发生明显异常,服务恢复后各项指标随之恢复正常。从横向维度来看,与GPS相比,Galileo系统目前在卫星位置速度精度、卫星钟差精度方面已表现出优于GPS的性能,在空间信号测距误差（SISRE）方面,Galileo轨道精度具有明显优势,平均SISRE达到0.27 m。GPS与BDS相当,GPS平均SISRE达到0.61 m,BDS的3类卫星MEO、IGSO和GEO分别达到0.76、0.58和0.68 m;QZSS的IGSO和GEO卫星平均SISRE分别达到0.85和0.99 m。GLONASS轨道精度稍差,平均SISRE为1.05 m。     

A technique for routinely updating the ITU-R database using radio occultation electron density profiles

Well credited and widely used ionospheric models, such as the International Reference Ionosphere or NeQuick, describe the variation of the electron density with height by means of a piecewise profile tied to the F2-peak parameters: the electron density, $N_m \mathrm{F2}$ N m F 2 , and the height, $h_m \mathrm{F2}$ h m F 2 . Accurate values of these parameters are crucial for retrieving reliable electron density estimations from those models. When direct measurements of these parameters are not available, the models compute the parameters using the so-called ITU-R database, which was established in the early 1960s. This paper presents a technique aimed at routinely updating the ITU-R database using radio occultation electron density profiles derived from GPS measurements gathered from low Earth orbit satellites. Before being used, these radio occultation profiles are validated by fitting to them an electron density model. A re-weighted Least Squares algorithm is used for down-weighting unreliable measurements (occasionally, entire profiles) and to retrieve $N_m \mathrm{F2}$ N m F 2 and $h_m \mathrm{F2}$ h m F 2 values—together with their error estimates—from the profiles. These values are used to monthly update the database, which consists of two sets of ITU-R-like coefficients that could easily be implemented in the IRI or NeQuick models. The technique was tested with radio occultation electron density profiles that are delivered to the community by the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 mission team. Tests were performed for solstices and equinoxes seasons in high and low-solar activity conditions. The global mean error of the resulting maps—estimated by the Least Squares technique—is between $0.5\times 10^{10}$ 0.5 × 10 10 and $3.6\times 10^{10}$ 3.6 × 10 10 elec/m $^{-3}$ ? 3 for the F2-peak electron density (which is equivalent to 7 % of the value of the estimated parameter) and from 2.0 to 5.6 km for the height ( $\sim $ ～ 2 %).     

The integral formulas of the associated Legendre functions

A new kind of integral formulas for ${\bar{P}_{n,m} (x)}$ is derived from the addition theorem about the Legendre Functions when n ? m is an even number. Based on the newly introduced integral formulas, the fully normalized associated Legendre functions can be directly computed without using any recursion methods that currently are often used in the computations. In addition, some arithmetic examples are computed with the increasing degree recursion and the integral methods introduced in the paper respectively, in order to compare the precisions and run-times of these two methods in computing the fully normalized associated Legendre functions. The results indicate that the precisions of the integral methods are almost consistent for variant x in computing ${\bar{P}_{n,m} (x)}$ , i.e., the precisions are independent of the choice of x on the interval [0,1]. In contrast, the precisions of the increasing degree recursion change with different values on the interval [0,1], particularly, when x tends to 1, the errors of computing ${\bar{P}_{n,m} (x)}$ by the increasing degree recursion become unacceptable when the degree becomes larger and larger. On the other hand, the integral methods cost more run-time than the increasing degree recursion. Hence, it is suggested that combinations of the integral method and the increasing degree recursion can be adopted, that is, the integral methods can be used as a replacement for the recursive initials when the recursion method become divergent.     

A note on adjustment of free networks

The present paper deals with the least-squares adjustment where the design matrix (A) is rank-deficient. The adjusted parameters \(\hat x\) as well as their variance-covariance matrix ( \(\sum _{\hat x} \) ) can be obtained as in the “standard” adjustment whereA has the full column rank, supplemented with constraints, \(C\hat x = w\) , whereC is the constraint matrix andw is sometimes called the “constant vector”. In this analysis only the inner adjustment constraints are considered, whereC has the full row rank equal to the rank deficiency ofA, andAC ^T =0. Perhaps the most important outcome points to the three kinds of results

1. A general least-squares solution where both \(\hat x\) and \(\sum _{\hat x} \) are indeterminate corresponds tow=arbitrary random vector.
2. The minimum trace (least-squares) solution where \(\hat x\) is indeterminate but \(\sum _{\hat x} \) is detemined (and trace \(\sum _{\hat x} \) corresponds tow=arbitrary constant vector.
3. The minimum norm (least-squares) solution where both \(\hat x\) and \(\sum _{\hat x} \) are determined (and norm \(\hat x\) , trace \(\sum _{\hat x} \) corresponds tow?0

     

Calculation and accuracy evaluation of TGD from IFB for BDS

With the development of new global navigation satellite system applications, the demand of high accurate positioning navigation timing (PNT) service becomes urgent. For precise PNT, the timing group delay (TGD) is regarded as an important parameter in the satellite navigation message. Instead of using the absolute receiver hardware delay, a method based on receiver inter-frequency bias (IFB, i.e., differential receiver hardware delay between different frequencies) calibration is presented to deal with the rank deficiency of a calculation matrix and to reduce jumps in TGD solutions in BDS. The double-differenced pseudorange obtained from a pair of zero baseline receivers is used to evaluate the IFB calibration accuracy. The estimated precision of TGD is evaluated and compared with GPS TGD provided by IGS. In order to ensure the quality of assessment, a method based on the difference of dual-frequency ionospheric delay is proposed to compare the accuracy of the estimated TGD and broadcast TGD. Finally, the effect of TGD on the user equivalent range error is analyzed. The analysis result shows that for BDS IGSO satellites, the precision of TGD1, which is the differential hardware delay between B1 (1561.098 MHz) and B3 (1268.52 MHz) frequencies, is better than 0.5 ns, and for GEO and MEO satellites the TGD1 is better than 1 and 2 ns, respectively. The precision of TGD2 of all satellites, which is the differential hardware delay between B2 (1207.14 MHz) and B3 frequencies, is better than 0.5 ns. The accuracy analysis result reveals that the proposed TGD estimation method can provide better results when compared with the broadcast data.     

Global empirical model for mapping zenith wet delays onto precipitable water

We can map zenith wet delays onto precipitable water with a conversion factor, but in order to calculate the exact conversion factor, we must precisely calculate its key variable $T_\mathrm{m}$ . Yao et al. (J Geod 86:1125–1135, 2012. doi:10.1007/s00190-012-0568-1) established the first generation of global $T_\mathrm{m}$ model (GTm-I) with ground-based radiosonde data, but due to the lack of radiosonde data at sea, the model appears to be abnormal in some areas. Given that sea surface temperature varies less than that on land, and the GPT model and the Bevis $T_\mathrm{m}$ – $T_\mathrm{s}$ relationship are accurate enough to describe the surface temperature and $T_\mathrm{m}$ , this paper capitalizes on the GPT model and the Bevis $T_\mathrm{m}$ – $T_\mathrm{s}$ relationship to provide simulated $T_\mathrm{m}$ at sea, as a compensation for the lack of data. Combined with the $T_\mathrm{m}$ from radiosonde data, we recalculated the GTm model coefficients. The results show that this method not only improves the accuracy of the GTm model significantly at sea but also improves that on land, making the GTm model more stable and practically applicable.