Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5486127 | Advances in Space Research | 2017 | 32 Pages |
Abstract
The Copernicus POD (CPOD) Service is in charge of providing the orbital and auxiliary products required by the PDGS (Payload Data Ground Segment). External orbit validation is regularly performed by comparing the CPOD Service orbits to orbit solutions provided by POD expert members of the Copernicus POD Quality Working Group (QWG). The orbit comparisons revealed systematic orbit offsets mainly in radial direction (approx. 3Â cm). Although no independent observation technique (e.g. DORIS, SLR) is available to validate the GPS-derived orbit solutions, comparisons between the different antenna phase center variations and different reduced-dynamic orbit determination approaches used in the various software packages helped to detect the cause of the systematic offset. An error in the given geometry information about the satellite has been found. After correction of the geometry the orbit validation shows a significant reduction of the radial offset to below 5Â mm. The 5Â cm orbit accuracy requirement in 3D is fulfilled according to the results of the orbit comparisons between the different orbit solutions from the QWG.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
H. Peter, A. Jäggi, J. Fernández, D. Escobar, F. Ayuga, D. Arnold, M. Wermuth, S. Hackel, M. Otten, W. Simons, P. Visser, U. Hugentobler, P. Féménias,