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Accurate orbit determination strategies for the tracking and data relay satellitesThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) System (TDRSS) for tracking and communications support of low Earth-orbiting satellites. TDRSS has the operational capability of providing 85% coverage for TDRSS-user spacecraft. TDRSS currently consists of five geosynchronous spacecraft and the White Sands Complex (WSC) at White Sands, New Mexico. The Bilateration Ranging Transponder System (BRTS) provides range and Doppler measurements for each TDRS. The ground-based BRTS transponders are tracked as if they were TDRSS-user spacecraft. Since the positions of the BRTS transponders are known, their radiometric tracking measurements can be used to provide a well-determined ephemeris for the TDRS spacecraft. For high-accuracy orbit determination of a TDRSS user, such as the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon spacecraft, high-accuracy TDRS orbits are required. This paper reports on successive refinements in improved techniques and procedures leading to more accurate TDRS orbit determination strategies using the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS). These strategies range from the standard operational solution using only the BRTS tracking measurements to a sophisticated iterative process involving several successive simultaneous solutions for multiple TDRSs and a TDRSS-user spacecraft. Results are presented for GTDS-generated TDRS ephemerides produced in simultaneous solutions with the TOPEX/Poseidon spacecraft. Strategies with different user spacecraft, as well as schemes for recovering accurate TDRS orbits following a TDRS maneuver, are also presented. In addition, a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of alternative strategies for TDRS orbit determination, excluding BRTS tracking measurements, are presented.
Document ID
19950021347
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Oza, D. H.
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD., United States)
Bolvin, D. T.
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD., United States)
Lorah, J. M.
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD., United States)
Lee, T.
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD., United States)
Doll, C. E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Flight Mechanics(Estimation Theory Symposium 1995
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Accession Number
95N27768
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-31500
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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