Performance of GPS-based accelerometry: A simulation experiment

Recent studies have shown that with the availability of high-quality CHAMP and GRACE gravity field models, it is feasible to determine accurate non-gravitational accelerations for low Earth orbiting satellites indirectly from precise GPS satellite-to-satellite observations. Possible applications of this so-called GPS-based accelerometry approach consist of accelerometer calibration and atmospheric density and wind computations. With the growing number of high-quality space-borne GPS receivers, this method could be applied to a large range of satellites. In this paper an extensive simulation study has been carried out, based on real accelerometer data from the GRACE mission, in order to determine the optimal processing strategy and the resulting accuracy of the estimated non-gravitational accelerations. It is shown that the optimal processing strategy consists of a piecewise linear parameterization of the estimated empirical accelerations, together with short 6-h orbit arcs. The GPS-based accelerometry approach makes use of triple-differenced GPS observations and the impact of considering the correlated observation noise was found to be marginal in the presence of other error sources such as GPS ephemeris errors. Using a priori non-gravitational force models improves the recovery of low temporal resolution accelerations, except during huge geomagnetic storms. With this strategy, non-gravitational accelerations can be recovered during high solar activity with an accuracy of better than 10% of the total signal in along-track direction and around 25–40% in cross-track direction, at time resolutions of around 8–20 min. During solar minimum conditions, the relative recovery error will increase to approximately 50% in along-track direction and around 60–70% in cross-track direction, due to the reduced atmospheric drag signal. Unfortunately, GPS-based accelerometry is hardly sensitive in the radial direction.     

Towards development of a consistent orbit series for TOPEX,Jason-1, and Jason-2

The TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and Jason-2 set of altimeter data now provide a time series of synoptic observations of the ocean that span nearly 17 years from the launch of TOPEX in 1992. The analysis of the altimeter data including the use of altimetry to monitor the global change in mean sea level requires a stable, accurate, and consistent orbit reference over the entire time span. In this paper, we describe the recomputation of a time series of orbits that rely on a consistent set of reference frames and geophysical models. The recomputed orbits adhere to the IERS 2003 standards for ocean and earth tides, use updates to the ITRF2005 reference frame for both the SLR and DORIS stations, apply GRACE-derived models for modeling of the static and time-variable gravity, implement the University College London (UCL) radiation pressure model for Jason-1, use improved troposphere modeling for the DORIS data, and apply the GOT4.7 ocean tide model for both dynamical ocean tide modeling and for ocean loading. The new TOPEX orbits have a mean SLR fit of 1.79 cm compared to 2.21 cm for the MGDR-B orbits. These new TOPEX orbits agree radially with independent SLR/crossover orbits at 0.70 cm RMS, and the orbit accuracy is estimated at 1.5–2.0 cm RMS over the entire TOPEX time series. The recomputed Jason-1 orbits agree radially with the Jason-1 GDR-C orbits at 1.08 cm RMS. The GSFC SLR/DORIS dynamic and reduced-dynamic orbits for Jason-2 agree radially with independent orbits from the CNES and JPL at 0.70–1.06 cm RMS. Applying these new orbits, and using the latest altimeter corrections for TOPEX, Jason-1, and Jason-2 from September 1992 to May 2009, we find a global rate in mean sea level of 3.0 ± 0.4 mm/yr.     

基于星历拟合的短弧运动学定轨

当导航卫星在姿轨控和轨道恢复期间,传统的统计定轨理论难以实现精密定轨。首次提出 了基于10参数星历拟合的短弧运动学定轨方法,建立和推导了相应的理论模型和定轨解算方 法。其优点在于不仅能够反映卫星运动的物理学特征,提高了速度和轨道预报精度,而且不 需要累积数据,实现近实时快速计算,克服了动力学法定轨发散和单点定位无法获得速度信 息的不足。对COMPASS M-01导航卫星实测数据的处理表明,10分钟短弧运动学定轨的位置精 度优于10 m,速度精度为2 cm／s,预报5分钟轨道精度为15.02 m,满足了短弧跟踪条件下R DSS对轨道精度的要求,实现了卫星精密定轨。
     

一种非合作目标相对位置和姿态确定方法

针对非合作目标中的从星若无法获得主星的动态信息时,就无法自主进行相对位置和姿态确定的问题,提出了一种采用陀螺、立体视觉系统和加速度计的相对状态确定方法。首先分别建立相对姿态方程、主星动力学方程和相对位置方程等系统的数学模型。然后根据这些方程组成的状态方程和立体视觉系统的测量模型设计了卡尔曼滤波器。该滤波器使得从星根据加速度计、陀螺和立体视觉系统的输出,在仅获得主星的外观特征和一些静态参数的情况下,能够自主进行相对位置和姿态的确定。最后,数值仿真结果表明,在相同仿真条件下,与使用主星陀螺信息的相对状态确定算法相比,该算法能够自主进行相对状态的确定,且位置和姿态稳态误差分别为0.05m和2°。     

一种解算整周模糊度几何算法实现GPS快速测姿

在多天线GPS姿态确定系统中,整周模糊度的确定一直是姿态解算的一个难题。针对载波相位双差模型,本文提出一种新的几何解算双差整周模糊度的方法。该方法首先利用C/A码数据完成姿态初步解算;然后根据初步解算的姿态参数、各天线间基线分量参数和卫星到接收机在当地水平坐标系中的向量,再利用本文提出解算双差整周模糊度几何算法求取整周模糊度双差值;将整周模糊度双差值代入载波相位双差模型反解精确的各天线坐标分量,由取得的各天线坐标分量解算得到精确的姿态参数。同时,应用本文所提出的方法,对采集的GPS多天线静态数据和动态数据进行了姿态测量解算,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

嫦娥一号卫星紫外月球敏感器

探月工程是我国航天领域的又一项重大工程项目,嫦娥一号卫星是探月工程的第一步。嫦娥一号卫星首次采用了一种全新的光学姿态敏感器——紫外月球敏感器,实现在卫星环月飞行期间的姿态测量任务。紫外月球敏感器是一种以月球为姿态参考源的大视场成像式光学姿态敏感器,本文介绍其工作原理、功能与组成以及在轨飞行试验的相关情况。     

基于IRAPF算法的航天器姿态确定

针对航天器姿态确定系统中存在较大初始误差及非线性较强的问题,提出了一种基于改进的正则化辅助粒子滤波（IRAPF）算法的航天器姿态确定方法。该算法将正则粒子滤波（RPF）与辅助粒子滤波（APF）相结合,将快速高斯变换（FGT）方法引入其中以减少计算量提高滤波的收敛速度。算法不仅有效地抑制了粒子退化问题,而且利用最新观测粒子来优化采样,并且在引入FGT后计算量与正则化的辅助粒子滤波相比降低了30%,改善了滤波的实时性。仿真结果表明了滤波的有效性。     

基于星载GPS的资源三号卫星精密定轨

资源三号卫星是我国首颗民用立体测图卫星,于2012年1月9日发射。卫星上配备有国产双频GPS接收机。利用非差双频GPS数据,基于卫星动力学原理和事后批处理定轨模式,采用30小时弧段（重叠弧长为 6小时） 对资源三号卫星进行了精密定轨,卫星位置重叠弧段精度平均为4.95cm。利用卫星激光测距（SLR）观测数据对星载GPS定轨结果进行了检核,检核精度优于4cm,无明显系统偏差。结果表明,该定轨精度完全能够满足资源三号卫星任务的要求。     

Study on TT&C resources scheduling technique based on inter-satellite link

The navigation constellation will have the capability of supporting Tracking Telemetry and Command (TT&C) operations by inter-satellite link (ISL). The ISL will become an important solution to reduce the shortage of ground TT&C resources. The problems need to be studied urgently in the field of space TT&C network resources scheduling management are how to determine the availability of ISL and how to allocate TT&C resources of ISL. The performance and scheduling constraints of navigation constellation?s ISL are analyzed, and three utilization strategies of ISL to perform TT&C operations are proposed. The allocation of TT&C resources based on ISL falls into two successive phases. Firstly, master satellite determination equation is established by using 0–1 Programming model based on the availability matrix. Mathematical method is used to solve the equation to determine the master satellite and the topology of ISL. Secondly, Constraint Programming (CP) model is used to describe the ground TT&C resources scheduling problem with special requirements of TT&C operations based on master satellite, and a heuristic algorithm is designed to solve the CP model. The equations and algorithm are verified by simulation examples. The algorithm of TT&C resources scheduling based on ISL has realized the synthesized usage of both the ISL and ground resources on TT&C field. This algorithm can improve TT&C supports of territorial ground TT&C network for global navigation constellation, and provides technical reference for the TT&C mission planning of global constellation by using ISL.     

Precise orbit determination using the batch filter based on particle filtering with genetic resampling approach

In this study, genetic resampling (GRS) approach is utilized for precise orbit determination (POD) using the batch filter based on particle filtering (PF). Two genetic operations, which are arithmetic crossover and residual mutation, are used for GRS of the batch filter based on PF (PF batch filter). For POD, Laser-ranging Precise Orbit Determination System (LPODS) and satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations of the CHAMP satellite are used. Monte Carlo trials for POD are performed by one hundred times. The characteristics of the POD results by PF batch filter with GRS are compared with those of a PF batch filter with minimum residual resampling (MRRS). The post-fit residual, 3D error by external orbit comparison, and POD repeatability are analyzed for orbit quality assessments. The POD results are externally checked by NASA JPL’s orbits using totally different software, measurements, and techniques. For post-fit residuals and 3D errors, both MRRS and GRS give accurate estimation results whose mean root mean square (RMS) values are at a level of 5 cm and 10–13 cm, respectively. The mean radial orbit errors of both methods are at a level of 5 cm. For POD repeatability represented as the standard deviations of post-fit residuals and 3D errors by repetitive PODs, however, GRS yields 25% and 13% more robust estimation results than MRRS for post-fit residual and 3D error, respectively. This study shows that PF batch filter with GRS approach using genetic operations is superior to PF batch filter with MRRS in terms of robustness in POD with SLR observations.