The GPS Topex/Poseidon precise orbit determination experiment - Implications for design of GPS global networksTopex/Poseidon, a cooperative satellite mission between United States and France, aims to determine global ocean circulation patterns and to study their influence on world climate through precise measurements of sea surface height above the geoid with an on-board altimeter. To achieve the mission science aims, a goal of 13-cm orbit altitude accuracy was set. Topex/Poseidon includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) precise orbit determination (POD) system that has now demonstrated altitude accuracy better than 5 cm. The GPS POD system includes an on-board GPS receiver and a 6-station GPS global tracking network. This paper reviews early GPS results and discusses multi-mission capabilities available from a future enhanced global GPS network, which would provide ground-based geodetic and atmospheric calibrations needed for NASA deep space missions while also supplying tracking data for future low Earth orbiters. Benefits of the enhanced global GPS network include lower operations costs for deep space tracking and many scientific and societal benefits from the low Earth orbiter missions, including improved understanding of ocean circulation, ocean-weather interactions, the El Nino effect, the Earth thermal balance, and weather forecasting.
Document ID
19940034462
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lindqwister, Ulf J. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Lichten, Stephen M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Davis, Edgar S. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Theiss, Harold L. (NASA Office of Space Communications Washington, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1993
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Report/Patent Number
IAF PAPER 93-038
Meeting Information
Meeting: IAF, International Astronautical Congress