Publications

The Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking (SST) in the high-low and/or low-low configuration is presently considered as being the most promising method for precise orbit determination and global gravity field recovery. Particularly, the use of the GPS system for orbit determination in the high-low configuration has been extensively studied and successfully tested on TOPEX/Poseidon. Recently, many space missions (e.g. CHAMP, STEP) have shown increased interest in implementing GPS-based orbit determination schemes. The along track orbit accuracy in high-low case is not good. To improve this accuracy, we have investigated the orbit determination schemes. The along track orbit accuracy in high-low case is not good. To improve this accuracy, we have investigated the orbit determination using both the high-low SST observations between GPS and low-Earth satellites and the low-low SST observations between low-Earth satellites. The study and analyses are based on a deterministic simulation approach. The simulated data between GPS and low-Earth satellites are carrier phases and pseudoranges. The range and range rate between low-Earth satellite are simulated. This paper presents results of an orbit determination study for satellites at 500 km altitude as an example.

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Kang, Z.; Schwintzer, P.; Reigber, C.; Zhu, S. Y. (1997): Precise orbit determination of low-earth satellites using SST data. Advances in Space Research, 19, 11, 1667-1670.