Contribution of satellite laser ranging to combined gravity field models

In the framework of satellite-only gravity field modeling, satellite laser ranging (SLR) data is typically exploited to recover long-wavelength features. This contribution provides a detailed discussion of the SLR component of GOCO02S, the latest release of combined models within the GOCO series. Over a period of five years (January 2006 to December 2010), observations to LAGEOS-1, LAGEOS-2, Ajisai, Stella, and Starlette were analyzed. We conducted a series of closed-loop simulations and found that estimating monthly sets of spherical harmonic coefficients beyond degree five leads to exceedingly ill-posed normal equation systems. Therefore, we adopted degree five as the spectral resolution for real data analysis. We compared our monthly coefficient estimates of degree two with SLR and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) time series provided by the Center for Space Research (CSR) at Austin, Texas. Significant deviations in C₂₀ were noted between SLR and GRACE; the agreement is better for the non-zonal coefficients. Fitting sinusoids together with a linear trend to our C₂₀ time series yielded a rate of (−1.75 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹/yr; this drift is equivalent to a geoid change from pole to equator of 0.35 ± 0.12 mm/yr or an apparent Greenland mass loss of 178.5 ± 61.2 km³/yr. The mean of all monthly solutions, averaged over the five-year period, served as input for the satellite-only model GOCO02S. The contribution of SLR to the combined gravity field model is highest for C₂₀, and hence is essential for the determination of the Earth’s oblateness.     

Simulation of long-term rotational dynamics of large space debris: A TOPEX/Poseidon case study

Accurate knowledge of the rotational dynamics of a large space debris is crucial for space situational awareness (SSA), whether it be for accurate orbital predictions needed for satellite conjunction analyses or for the success of an eventual active debris removal mission charged with stabilization, capture and removal of debris from orbit. In this light, the attitude dynamics of an inoperative satellite of great interest to the space debris community, the joint French and American spacecraft TOPEX/Poseidon, is explored. A comparison of simulation results with observations obtained from high-frequency satellite range measurements is made, showing that the spacecraft is currently spinning about its minor principal axis in a stable manner. Predictions of the evolution of its attitude motion to 2030 are presented, emphasizing the uncertainty on those estimates due to internal energy dissipation, which could cause a change of its spin state in the future. The effect of solar radiation pressure and the eddy-current torque are investigated in detail, and insights into some of the satellite’s missing properties are provided. These results are obtained using a novel, open-source, coupled orbit-attitude propagation software, the Debris SPin/Orbit Simulation Environment (D-SPOSE), whose primary goal is the study of the long-term evolution of the attitude dynamics of large space debris.     

北斗GEO卫星CEI相时延解算方法研究

连线端站干涉测量(connected element interferometry，CEI)是高精度测角技术，在中高轨卫星、月球及深空航天器定轨定位中有良好的应用前景。基于CEI技术特点，提出了一种新的测量方法，即在相干测距模式下利用测距音和载波信号作为信号源进行连线端站干涉测量。构建了CEI试验系统对北斗GEO卫星进行观测，利用相干测距模式下的下行信号解算群时延、相时延。利用北斗GEO卫星精密星历计算的时延理论值，对北斗GEO卫星CEI群时延和相时延结果进行评估。结果表明，相干测距模式下CEI群时延和相时延残差均值分别为0.47ns、0.08ns，标准差(3σ)分别4.2ns、0.13ns。该项研究验证了相干测距模式下CEI相时延解算的可行性，可为共位地球同步卫星精密相对定位、月球探测器CEI测量提供技术参考。     

RSSI及TOF测距技术及仿真研究

无线传感器网络综合了嵌入式计算、传感器和通信等多种技术,可以实现对信息的获取与处理;借助其他辅助定位方式,可以实现对非合作目标的定位。而无线传感器网络测距技术是实现定位的基础。对TOF和RSSI这2种测距技术进行了深入的研究,比较这2种测距技术在不同范围内的测距效果,进而为工程应用提供理论基础。     

应答机测距转发性能分析

分析了采用视频AGC（自动增益控制）、射频AGC和限幅器等3种测距转发模式的应答机性能,分析结果表明：视频AGC模式下,应答机测距通道的输出功率恒定,测距转发性能不随上行信号强度变化而变化;射频AGC模式下,应答机测距通道的输出功率不恒定,测距转发性能随着上行信号强度变化而变化;而限幅器模式可看作射频AGC的一种特殊情况。仿真分析了我国研制的限幅器和射频AGC两种模式应答机的性能,结果表明理论计算的性能与实测结果一致,理论分析正确且理论分析结果可作为链路计算的依据。     

深空测控新技术研究进展

测控系统是航天工程不可或缺的重要组成部分,其导航通信能力在深空探测任务中尤为重要。深空探测任务远距离、长延迟、弱信号、易中断条件下高精度导航测量和高速可靠数据传输始终是深空测控技术需要重点解决的问题。围绕这些问题重点介绍了在天线组阵、再生伪码测距、连接端站干涉测量、相位参考干涉测量和容延迟网络等一系列新技术方面开展的研究工作和部分成果,可以看到,这些成果的应用将丰富深空测控技术手段,在未来更复杂、更遥远的深空探测任务中将会发挥重要作用。     

Design and performances of laser retro-reflector arrays for Beidou navigation satellites and SLR observations

Beidou is the regional satellite navigation system in China, consisting of three kinds of orbiting satellites, MEO, GEO and IGSO, with the orbital altitudes of 21500–36000 km. For improving the accuracy of satellites orbit determination, calibrating microwave measuring techniques and providing better navigation service, all Beidou satellites are equipped with laser retro-reflector arrays (LRAs) to implement high precision laser ranging. The paper presents the design of LRAs for Beidou navigation satellites and the method of inclined installation of LRAs for GEO satellites to increase the effective reflective areas for the regional ground stations. By using the SLR system, the observations for Beidou satellites demonstrated a precision of centimeters. The performances of these LRAs on Beidou satellites are very excellent.     

星间测距对小卫星编队相对轨道状态的修正

相对轨道状态确定是小卫星编队正常工作的基础和重要保障.针对小型化、低成本的星载GPS接收机定轨精度较低的情况,提出一种利用单纯星间测距信息对卫星编队相对轨道进行修正的方法.引入星间测距信息,采用扩展卡尔曼滤波算法提高编队的相对轨道估计精度.通过仿真验证,证实了该方案的有效性.     

一种用于深空导航定位的新型DOR信标

甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)是深空探测器导航定位的重要手段之一,深空探测器的VLBI观测通常采用差分单程测距(DOR)信标和双差单程测距(Delta-DOR)测量体制,精确地测量深空探测器相对于河外射电源的角距.相位杂散是影响Delta-DOR测量精度的主要误差源之一,针对这项误差研究了一种基于伪随机噪声调制方式的新型...     

基于移动站的转发式地面站设备时延标校方法

在转发式卫星测定轨系统中,基于伪码测距原理的星地距离测量是实现卫星精密定轨和高精度时间比对的基础。为获得高精度的星地距离,需要将地面站设备时延从伪码测距值中精确扣除。在转发式卫星测轨原理的基础上,提出了基于移动站的转发式地面站设备时延标校方法,实现了对转发式地面站设备时延的标校,标校精度能够优于0.5ns,对提高转发式卫星定轨精度和卫星双向时间比对精度具有重要作用。