Precision positioning of earth orbiting remote sensing systemsDecimeter tracking accuracy is sought for a number of precise earth sensing satellites to be flown in the 1990's. This accuracy can be achieved with techniques which use the Global Positioning System (GPS) in a differential mode. A precisely located global network of GPS ground receivers and a receiver aboard the user satellite are needed, and all techniques simultaneously estimate the user and GPS satellite states. Three basic navigation approaches include classical dynamic, wholly nondynamic, and reduced dynamic or hybrid formulations. The first two are simply special cases of the third, which promises to deliver subdecimeter accuracy for dynamically unpredictable vehicles down to the lowest orbit altitudes. The potential of these techniques for tracking and gravity field recovery will be demonstrated on NASA's Topex satellite beginning in 1991. Applications to the Shuttle, Space Station, and dedicated remote sensing platforms are being pursued.
Document ID
19880047932
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Melbourne, William G. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Yunck, T. P. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wu, S. C. (California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1987
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Report/Patent Number
AAS PAPER 86-398
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aerospace century XXI: Space sciences, applications, and commercial developments