Dynamic orbit determination and gravity field model improvement from GPS, DORIS and Laser measurements on TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite

Summary. In the framework of the GRIM series of gravity field models, the CNES/GRGS GINS precise orbit determination software has been adapted to dynamic GPS data processing. That is simultaneous processing of all available observables (i.e. GPS, DORIS, Laser) and all available satellite orbits (i.e. GPS, TOPEX/POSEIDON) can now be performed. The TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) mission satellite is equipped with a GPS receiver, a DORIS receiver and a laser reflector that represents an unprecedented opportunity to compare and combine these three tracking systems to estimate orbital parameters and gravity field coefficients. Different combinations including : GPS + DORIS, DORIS + LASER, GPS + DORIS + LASER, have been tested and have shown small but systematic improvement in T/P orbit accuracy when GPS and DORIS data were processed simultaneously. Five tuned gravity field models have been generated by accumulating different combinations of T/P normal equations associated to the GPS, DORIS and Laser data. GPS data have a greater dynamic impact on gravity field spherical harmonics coefficient determination than DORIS and Laser data. Furthermore, the results obtained with the solutions including and T/P normal equations suggest that indeed these different tracking systems are somehow complementary in a dynamic sense. Received 30 March 1995; Accepted 19 September 1996