VLBI system for weekly measurement of UT1 and polar motion: Preliminary results

The DSN implementation of a system for measuring UT1 and polar motion using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is currently being tested. The VLBI experiments are being conducted on a weekly basis on each of two intercontinental baselines. During a 17 day period in September 1979, data were obtained for seven consecutive experiments using an early version of that system. Those experiments were used to refine the estimation procedure to be used in the operational system and to provide a preliminary assessment of the performance of the system.