OPTIS – A Satellite test of Special and General Relativity

OPTIS has been proposed as a small satellite platform in a high elliptical orbit (apogee 40,000 km, perigee 10,000 km) and is designed for high precision tests of foundations of Special and General Relativity. The experimental set-up consists of two ultrastable Nd:YAG lasers, three crossed optical resonators (monolithic cavities), an ensemble of atomic clocks, an optical comb generator, laser tracking devices and a drag-free control system. OPTIS enables improved tests of (1) the isotropy and (2) constancy of the speed of light, (3) special relativistic time dilation, (4) the universality of the gravitational redshift by comparison of various clocks, can measure (5) the absolute value of the gravitational redshift, (6) the Lense–Thirring effect and (7) the perigee advance and (8) can make a test of a hypothetical Yukawa part in the gravitational potential. To avoid any influence from atmospheric drag, solar radiation, or Earth albedo, the satellite needs drag-free control to depress the residual acceleration down to 10⁻¹⁴ m/s² in the frequency range between 10⁻² and 10⁻³ Hz. Precise thermal control must be used to stabilize the cavity temperature to within one part in 10⁷ at time scales of 100 s and to one part in 10⁵ on the orbit time scale.     

GEO SAR长合成孔径时间弯曲轨迹成像试验

地球同步轨道合成孔径雷达（GEO SAR）具有重访周期短,观测范围广等优点,在军事及民用领域具有重要的应用价值。针对GEO SAR长合成孔径时间弯曲轨迹复杂成像特性,首次提出一种地面演示验证方法,对长合成孔径时间弯曲轨迹下成像可行性进行验证。给出长合成孔径时间弯曲轨迹定量分析过程,提出具体试验方案,最后角反射器成像品质评估结果表明可实现长合成孔径时间弯曲轨迹下目标点成像。     

VLBI observations to the APOD satellite

The APOD (Atmospheric density detection and Precise Orbit Determination) is the first LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite in orbit co-located with a dual-frequency GNSS (GPS/BD) receiver, an SLR reflector, and a VLBI X/S dual band beacon. From the overlap statistics between consecutive solution arcs and the independent validation by SLR measurements, the orbit position deviation was below 10?cm before the on-board GNSS receiver got partially operational. In this paper, the focus is on the VLBI observations to the LEO satellite from multiple geodetic VLBI radio telescopes, since this is the first implementation of a dedicated VLBI transmitter in low Earth orbit. The practical problems of tracking a fast moving spacecraft with current VLBI ground infrastructure were solved and strong interferometric fringes were obtained by cross-correlation of APOD carrier and DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) signals. The precision in X-band time delay derived from 0.1?s integration time of the correlator output is on the level of 0.1?ns. The APOD observations demonstrate encouraging prospects of co-location of multiple space geodetic techniques in space, as a first prototype.     

Satellite monitoring of anomalous effects in the ionosphere probably related to strong earthquakes

The paper presents simultaneously a satellite monitoring of plasma density disturbances and quasi-static electric fields on the one hand, and a ground earthquake monitoring, on the other. The INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 satellite was launched on 7th August 1981. It had a perigee of 825 km, an apogee of 906 km and orbit inclination of 81.2°. For satellite’s orbits over sources of earthquakes M ⩾ 5.5 (seismic data of the World Data Center – Denver, Colorado), in the time period 12.08.1981–30.12.1981, some ionospheric effects are investigated. These effects can be considered eventually as possible earthquake precursors. The paper discusses specific anomalous effects observed in the ionosphere, which cannot be explained by factors of solar-magnetospheric origin. They could be associated with the earthquake growing processes in the lithosphere and troposphere zones above the source. In conclusion the results of ionosphere anomalous effects monitoring are proposed.     

一种空间协同探测系统的星座设计方法

研究了由多颗合成孔径雷达卫星和一颗可见光卫星构成的空间协同探测系统的工作模式.根据太阳同步轨道和冻结轨道的特点,结合近地轨道遥感卫星的应用需求,选择了轨道半长轴、偏心率、倾角、近心点幅角.考虑到卫星偏航控制对覆盖性能的影响,在不动的地心坐标系中推导了卫星观测方向与地表交点的表达式,提出了确定系统中各颗卫星的升交点赤经和过近心点时刻的算法.给出了包含两颗合成孔径雷达卫星与一颗可见光卫星的协同探测系统的星座设计结果,并利用国际公认的卫星软件工具包Satellite ToolKit进行了验证,表明该设计方法是正确的.     

气动辅助异面变轨在多碎片清除中的应用分析

碎片清除飞行器异面变轨需要消耗大量燃料.从气动辅助异面变轨优化设计及被清除碎片轨道高度差值、倾角差值等参数对变轨性能的影响出发,比较分析了优化气动辅助异面变轨与双脉冲霍曼轨道转移的燃料节约量,研究了不同轨道高度差对于实施气动辅助变轨燃料节约量的影响.当地球静止轨道（GEO）与低地轨道（LEO）间气动辅助变轨优化速度增量约为1.55km·s-1、质量面积比172kg·m-2、比冲310s、轨道倾角变化16°时,燃料节约率约为45%.对比研究了不同轨道高度差LEO轨道间实施气动辅助变轨的燃料节约情况.结果表明:随着轨道高度的增加,气动辅助优化效率逐渐降低;在相同高度轨道间实施异面变轨,随着轨道倾角的增加,气动辅助变轨燃料节约率先增大后减小,倾角改变量约为20°时,燃料节约率最大;当轨道倾角为5°时,采用气动辅助变轨和双脉冲变轨的燃料消耗量相同.      

Towards accurate atmospheric mass density determination Using precise positional information of space objects

This paper presents a new method of deriving atmospheric mass densities with a high temporal resolution from precise orbit data of low earth orbiting (LEO) space objects. This method is based on the drag perturbation equation of the semi-major axis of the orbit of LEO space objects which relates the change rate of the semi-major axis to the atmospheric mass density. The effectiveness of the new method is evaluated using the GFZ-ISDC GPS rapid science orbit (RSO) products of the CHAMP satellite over a time period of 3 months. The densities derived using this new method and obtained from accelerometer data are compared and good agreements are achieved. An example of using the derived density to generate good orbit prediction for CHAMP is presented.     

Spot 1 end of life disposition manoeuvres

The Earth observation satellites of the SPOT family are on a Sun-synchronous orbit at 822 km altitude. The on-orbit lifetime of objects at this altitude is about two centuries, which represents an important risk to the other satellites.The space debris issue has caused the main Agencies to adopt mitigation guidelines with the objective to reduce the population of objects orbiting the Earth. In 1999, CNES published its own standard presenting the management, design and operation rules. This document is fully compliant with the Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) mitigation guidelines approved in 2002 by 11 Space Agencies and submitted to United Nations – Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in February 2003.The space debris mitigation requirements expressed in the CNES standard and in the IADC mitigation guidelines limit the orbital lifetime in LEO to less than 25 years. Although not applicable to Spot 1, launched earlier in 1986, this rule was voluntarily applied and the decision to deorbit Spot 1 was taken.The corresponding operations, performed in November 2003, were complex due to a large number of constraints such as the unusual flight domain, the on-board sensors, the short ground station visibilities or the uncertainties in the estimation of the remaining fuel in the tanks. In the preliminary phase, the orbit was lowered 15 km below the operational orbit to avoid any collision risk with the other Spot satellites. Then, in a second phase, a series of eight apogee boosts lowered progressively the perigee altitude to 619 km. Finally, a large last manoeuvre was performed to empty the tanks and to reduce the perigee altitude the maximum amount. A succession of four ground stations visibilities allowed a real time monitoring of this manoeuvre. In particular the effect of gas bubbles in the propulsion system was observed through telemetry confirming the fuel depletion. The batteries were then disconnected and the telemetry emitter was switched off. According to the obtained perigee altitude, the on-orbit lifetime of Spot 1 should be about 18 years, which meets the space debris mitigation requirements.     

MULPEX: A compact multi-layered polymer foil collector for micrometeoroids and orbital debris

Detailed studies of preserved hypervelocity impact residues on spacecraft multi-layer insulation foils have yielded important information about the flux of small particles from different sources in low-Earth orbit (LEO). We have extended our earlier research on impacts occurring in LEO to design and testing of a compact capture device. MUlti-Layer Polymer EXperiment (MULPEX) is simple, cheap to build, lightweight, of no power demand, easy to deploy, and optimised for the efficient collection of impact residue for analysis on return to Earth. The capture medium is a stack of very thin (8 and 40 μm) polyimide foils, supported on poly-tetrafluoroethylene sheet frames, surrounded by a protective aluminium casing. The uppermost foil has a very thin metallic coating for thermal protection and resistance to atomic oxygen and ultra-violet exposure. The casing provides a simple detachable interface for deployment on the spacecraft, facing into the desired direction for particle collection. On return to the laboratory, the stacked foils are separated for examination in a variable pressure scanning electron microscope, without need for surface coating. Analysis of impact residue is performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers. Our laboratory experiments, utilising buck-shot firings of analogues to micrometeoroids (35–38 μm olivine) and space debris (4 μm alumina and 1 mm stainless steel) in a light gas gun, have shown that impact residue is abundant within the foil layers, and preserves a record of the impacting particle, whether of micrometer or millimetre dimensions. Penetrations of the top foil are easily recognised, and act as a proxy for dimensions of the penetrating particle. Impact may cause disruption and melting, but some residue retains sufficient crystallographic structure to show clear Raman lines, diagnostic of the original mineral.     

On the usefulness of atmospheric and oceanic angular momentum in recovering polar motion and gravity field variations in a unified process

Earth rotation parameters (ERPs) are excited by variations in the mass distribution on the Earth’s surface and the exchange of angular momentum between the atmosphere and oceans and the solid Earth. The same mass redistribution causes temporal changes in the gravity field coefficients with the second degree harmonics related to the rotational deformation and hence to changes in the Earth’s inertial tensor. If precise models of the atmospheric and oceanic angular momentum (AM) are available solution for polar motion and degree 2 Stokes harmonics can be unified. In this study we utilize SLR tracking of LAGEOS to compare (i) degree 2 harmonics from ERPs and gravitation, and (ii) LAGEOS excitation functions and geophysical data (mass + motion). Finally, we investigate to what extent a unified approach is possible with current models for AM data and gravity mass change estimated from ERP within orbit determinations.     

GNSS global real-time augmentation positioning: Real-time precise satellite clock estimation,prototype system construction and performance analysis

Lots of ambiguities in un-differenced (UD) model lead to lower calculation efficiency, which isn’t appropriate for the high-frequency real-time GNSS clock estimation, like 1 Hz. Mixed differenced model fusing UD pseudo-range and epoch-differenced (ED) phase observations has been introduced into real-time clock estimation. In this contribution, we extend the mixed differenced model for realizing multi-GNSS real-time clock high-frequency updating and a rigorous comparison and analysis on same conditions are performed to achieve the best real-time clock estimation performance taking the efficiency, accuracy, consistency and reliability into consideration. Based on the multi-GNSS real-time data streams provided by multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) and Wuhan University, GPS + BeiDou + Galileo global real-time augmentation positioning prototype system is designed and constructed, including real-time precise orbit determination, real-time precise clock estimation, real-time Precise Point Positioning (RT-PPP) and real-time Standard Point Positioning (RT-SPP). The statistical analysis of the 6 h-predicted real-time orbits shows that the root mean square (RMS) in radial direction is about 1–5 cm for GPS, Beidou MEO and Galileo satellites and about 10 cm for Beidou GEO and IGSO satellites. Using the mixed differenced estimation model, the prototype system can realize high-efficient real-time satellite absolute clock estimation with no constant clock-bias and can be used for high-frequency augmentation message updating (such as 1 Hz). The real-time augmentation message signal-in-space ranging error (SISRE), a comprehensive accuracy of orbit and clock and effecting the users’ actual positioning performance, is introduced to evaluate and analyze the performance of GPS + BeiDou + Galileo global real-time augmentation positioning system. The statistical analysis of real-time augmentation message SISRE is about 4–7 cm for GPS, whlile 10 cm for Beidou IGSO/MEO, Galileo and about 30 cm for BeiDou GEO satellites. The real-time positioning results prove that the GPS + BeiDou + Galileo RT-PPP comparing to GPS-only can effectively accelerate convergence time by about 60%, improve the positioning accuracy by about 30% and obtain averaged RMS 4 cm in horizontal and 6 cm in vertical; additionally RT-SPP accuracy in the prototype system can realize positioning accuracy with about averaged RMS 1 m in horizontal and 1.5–2 m in vertical, which are improved by 60% and 70% to SPP based on broadcast ephemeris, respectively.     

Orbit improvement for GTO objects using follow-up observations

The Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern was and is conducting several search campaigns for space debris in the geostationary ring (GEO) and the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). First tests to build up a catalogue of satellites and space debris were performed recently. As the discovery observations of an object usually cover a time interval of a few minutes only, the first orbits determined are assumed to be circular. For GEO objects a circular orbit is a rather good approximation. This is certainly not the case for GTO objects. Nevertheless, a circular orbit seems to be an acceptable approximation for a short time interval around the observations. The first orbits can be used to acquire follow-up observations, which allow the determination of elliptical orbits. The maximum allowed time span between the detection and the follow-up for a successful recovery is found using simulated GTO orbits and observations. Further follow-up observations are simulated in order to study the orbit improvement process and the required force model. The accuracy of orbits needed to build up a catalogue is studied. The simulations are compared to the results achieved with observations acquired by the 1 m telescope on Tenerife.     

The situation in the geostationary ring

For more than 25 years, the practice of reorbiting of a geostationary satellite at the end of its mission in order to protect the geostationary orbit (GEO) environment has been recommended and performed by a number of operators. In recent years, an internationally recognised re-orbiting altitude has been defined by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Based on orbital data contained in the DISCOS database, the situation on the geostationary ring is analysed. In January 2004, from 1036 catalogued objects passing through the geostationary region, 340 are controlled within their allocated longitude slots, 395 are drifting above, below or through GEO, and 140 are in a libration orbit. In the periods 1997–2003, 103 spacecraft reached their end of life; 34 were reorbited in compliance with the IADC recommendation, 35 were reorbited below the minimum recommended altitude, and 34 were abandoned without any end-of-life disposal manoeuvre. Apart from these catalogued objects, the ESA 1-m telescope has observed many smaller debris (down to 10–15 cm) in this orbital region representing a collision risk for GEO spacecraft which is difficult to quantify.     

基于认知无线电的GEO与LEO卫星频谱共存

随着新的宽带多媒体业务的发展,宽带无线频谱的需求日益增长.同时,低轨道(LEO)卫星由于其传输损耗低、传播时延小而被大规模部署.为了更好地利用频谱资源,卫星通信系统普遍采用高轨道(GEO)卫星与LEO卫星频谱共存的方案来提高频谱利用率.在频谱共存的过程中,提出了一种基于动态阈值的能量检测与波束跳跃相结合的算法,以减小L...     

GRO和LRO掩星事件模拟研究

GRO（Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation）和LRO（Low Earth Orbit Radio Occultation）联合组网探测地球大气是无线电掩星探测技术的主要发展方向.本文根据掩星事件的数学判据,仿真分析了LEO卫星主要轨道参数对GRO和LRO掩星事件数量和全球分布情况的影响.研究表明:卫星轨道越低GRO掩星事件越多;轨道倾角在30°和75°之间时,GRO掩星事件较多,全球覆盖率也较大;利用极轨卫星进行LRO掩星探测时,LRO掩星事件较均匀地分布在各纬度带.研究成果对GRO和LRO联合星座设计具有参考价值.      

Impact of ITRS 2014 realizations on altimeter satellite precise orbit determination

This paper evaluates orbit accuracy and systematic error for altimeter satellite precise orbit determination on TOPEX, Jason-1, Jason-2 and Jason-3 by comparing the use of four SLR/DORIS station complements from the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) 2014 realizations with those based on ITRF2008. The new Terrestrial Reference Frame 2014 (TRF2014) station complements include ITRS realizations from the Institut National de l’Information Géographique et Forestière (IGN) ITRF2014, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) JTRF2014, the Deutsche Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI) DTRF2014, and the DORIS extension to ITRF2014 for Precise Orbit Determination, DPOD2014. The largest source of error stems from ITRF2008 station position extrapolation past the 2009 solution end time. The TRF2014 SLR/DORIS complement impact on the ITRF2008 orbit is only 1–2 mm RMS radial difference between 1992–2009, and increases after 2009, up to 5 mm RMS radial difference in 2016. Residual analysis shows that station position extrapolation error past the solution span becomes evident even after two years, and will contribute to about 3–4 mm radial orbit error after seven years. Crossover data show the DTRF2014 orbits are the most accurate for the TOPEX and Jason-2 test periods, and the JTRF2014 orbits for the Jason-1 period. However for the 2016 Jason-3 test period only the DPOD2014-based orbits show a strong and statistically significant margin of improvement. The positive results with DTRF2014 suggest the new approach to correct station positions or normal equations for non-tidal loading before combination is beneficial. We did not find any compelling POD advantage in using non-linear over linear station velocity models in our SLR & DORIS orbit tests on the Jason satellites. The JTRF2014 proof-of-concept ITRS realization demonstrates the need for improved SLR+DORIS orbit centering when compared to the Ries (2013) CM annual model. Orbit centering error is seen as an annual radial signal of 0.4 mm amplitude with the CM model. The unmodeled CM signals show roughly a 1.8 mm peak-to-peak annual variation in the orbit radial component. We find the TRF network stability pertinent to POD can be defined only by examination of the orbit-specific tracking network time series. Drift stability between the ITRF2008 and the other TRF2014-based orbits is very high, the relative mean radial drift error over water is no larger than 0.04 mm/year over 1993–2015. Analyses also show TRF induced orbit error meets current altimeter rate accuracy goals for global and regional sea level estimation.     

Optimal two-impulse rendezvous with terminal tangent burn considering the trajectory constraints

The two-impulse orbital rendezvous problem with a terminal tangent burn between coplanar elliptical orbits is studied by considering a lower bound on perigee radius and an upper bound on apogee radius for the transfer orbit. This problem requires that two spacecraft arrive at the rendezvous point with the same arrival flight-path angle after the same flight time. The admissible range of the final true anomaly that meets the perigee and apogee constraints is obtained in closed form. The revolution number of the transfer orbit is expressed as a function of the true anomaly and the revolution numbers of the initial and final orbits. All the feasible solutions are obtained with a bound on the revolution number of the final orbit. Then, the minimum-fuel one is determined by comparing their costs. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to obtain all the feasible solutions for given initial impulse points and the optimal solution with the initial coasting arc. Numerical results show that the minimum-fuel solution for the terminal tangent burn rendezvous is close to that for the cotangent rendezvous when the rendezvous time is long enough; however, the cotangent rendezvous may not exist when the rendezvous time is short.     

Global pictures of the ozone field,from high altitudes,from DE-I

Using the imaging instrumentation aboard the Dynamics Explorer spacecraft (DE-I), total column ozone densities are obtained in the sunlit hemisphere by measuring the intensities of backscattered solar ultraviolet radiation with multiple filters and multiple photometers. The high apogee altitude (23,000 km) of the eccentric polar orbit allows high resolution global-scale images of the terrestrial ozone field to be obtained within 12 minutes. Previous ozone-monitoring spacecraft have required much longer time periods for comparable spatial coverage because of their lower altitudes (<1200 km). The much higher altitude of DE-I also provides hours of continuous imaging of features compared to minutes or seconds with previous spacecraft. Near perigee, high resolution images can be gained with pixel size as small as 3 km to view mesoscale atmospheric variations. Utilizing these data, the effects of planetary-scale, synoptic-scale, and mesoscale dynamical processes, which control the distribution of ozone near the tropopause, can be studied. Preliminary results show short-term (less than one day) variations in the synoptic ozone field and these variations appear to be in accord with meteorological data. Spatial variations in the ozone field are found to be highly negatively correlated with tropopause altitude.     

Disposal orbits for GEO spacecraft: A method for evaluating the orbit height distributions resulting from implementing IADC guidelines

Geostationary orbit (GEO) is the most commercially valuable Earth orbit. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has produced guidelines to help protect this region from space debris. The guidelines propose moving a satellite at the end of its operational life to a disposal orbit, which is designed so that satellites left there will not infringe the operational GEO region within a period of at least 100 yr.     

Feasibility study of LEO,GEO and Molniya orbit based satellite solar power station for some identified sites in India

The analysis of satellite solar power station (SSPS) is carried out for some specified locations (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru) in India and consequently the performance of the system is evaluated for geostationary earth orbit (GEO) based SSPS, low earth orbit (LEO) based SSPS and Molniya (quasi geostationary) orbit based SSPS for sites located at different latitudes. The analysis of power; received energy over a year and weight of the rectenna array for the same beam intensity showed varied results for Molniya orbit based SSPS, LEO based SSPS and GEO based SSPS. The power delivered by the LEO SSPS was highest which indicated that this SSPS may be efficient for the short term power requirement. However, it is observed from the results of the energy received over a year that the GEO based system is suitable for base load power plant as it is capable of delivering constant energy through out a year. Further, the weight of the rectenna and hence the space required for ground station for same power output is smallest for Molniya orbit based system for a range of rectenna array radius considered. It is thus envisaged that the Molniya orbit based system would be a better choice for commercial use of SSPS. These findings may help for judicious selection of satellite orbit and ground station location for placing the satellite for SSPS for various applications.