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GEOS 3 STDN S band Doppler tracking investigationGEOS 3S Doppler band and laser ranging data, acquired from August 1975 to March 1976 in the spacecraft altimeter calibration area, are examined. An evaluation of two-way and three-way Doppler data, for the positioning of Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network S band stations is presented, as well as the Goddard Space Flight Center laser system that is used to reference the exact position of the Doppler stations. The two-way and three-way Doppler tracking devices, situated at Rosman and Bermuda, have yielded data for the recovery of GEOS 3 arc height with an uncertainty of only 1 m. Attention is given to the effects of beacon signal frequency instability, controlled by a temperature sensitive auxiliary crystal oscillator on board the spacecraft, and to the one-way range rate tracking noise that was found to be within a range of 2 to 10 cm/s. 1- and 2-way passes and their different arc meters are graphed, showing the Doppler tracking interval. It was concluded that other accurate computations and recovery of station coordinates could be performed employing tracking data from S band stations.
Document ID
19790060699
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rosenbaum, B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Measurements Evaluation Branch, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
July 30, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 84
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Accession Number
79A44712
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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