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Precise Orbit Determination for GEOSAT Follow-On Using Satellite Laser Ranging Data and Intermission Altimeter CrossoversThe US Navy's GEOSAT Follow-On Spacecraft was launched on February 10, 1998 with the primary objective of the mission to map the oceans using a radar altimeter. Following an extensive set of calibration campaigns in 1999 and 2000, the US Navy formally accepted delivery of the satellite on November 29, 2000. Satellite laser ranging (SLR) and Doppler (Tranet-style) beacons track the spacecraft. Although limited amounts of GPS data were obtained, the primary mode of tracking remains satellite laser ranging. The GFO altimeter measurements are highly precise, with orbit error the largest component in the error budget. We have tuned the non-conservative force model for GFO and the gravity model using SLR, Doppler and altimeter crossover data sampled over one year. Gravity covariance projections to 70x70 show the radial orbit error on GEOSAT was reduced from 2.6 cm in EGM96 to 1.3 cm with the addition of SLR, GFO/GFO and TOPEX/GFO crossover data. Evaluation of the gravity fields using SLR and crossover data support the covariance projections and also show a dramatic reduction in geographically-correlated error for the tuned fields. In this paper, we report on progress in orbit determination for GFO using GFO/GFO and TOPEX/GFO altimeter crossovers. We will discuss improvements in satellite force modeling and orbit determination strategy, which allows reduction in GFO radial orbit error from 10-15 cm to better than 5 cm.
Document ID
20010084987
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lemoine, Frank G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Rowlands, David D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Luthcke, Scott B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Zelensky, Nikita P.
(Raytheon Information Technology and Scientific Services Lanham, MD United States)
Chinn, Douglas S.
(Raytheon Information Technology and Scientific Services Lanham, MD United States)
Pavlis, Despina E.
(Raytheon Information Technology and Scientific Services Lanham, MD United States)
Marr, Gregory
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: 2001 Flight Mechanics Symposium
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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