Performance improvement of real-time PPP ambiguity resolution using a regional integer clock

Obtaining reliable GNSS uncalibrated phase delay (UPD) or integer clock products is the key to achieving ambiguity-fixed solutions for real-time (RT) precise point positioning (PPP) users. However, due to the influence of RT orbit errors, the quality of UPD/integer clock products estimated with a globally distributed GNSS network is difficult to ensure, thereby affecting the ambiguity resolution (AR) performance of RT-PPP. In this contribution, by fully utilising the consistency of orbital errors in regional GNSS network coverage areas, a method is proposed for estimating regional integer clock products to compensate for RT orbit errors. Based on Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) RT precise products, the regional GPS/BDS integer clock was estimated with a CORS network in the west of China. Results showed that the difference between the estimated regional and CNES global integer clock/bias products was generally less than 5 cm for GPS, whereas clock differences of greater than 10 cm were observed for BDS due to the large RT orbit error. Compared with PPP using global integer clock/bias products, the AR performance of PPP using the regional integer clock was obviously improved for four rover stations. For single GPS, the horizontal and vertical accuracies of ambiguity-fixed PPP solutions were improved by 56.2% and 45.3% on average, respectively, whereas improvements of 67.5% and 50.5% in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, were observed for the combined GPS/BDS situation. Based on a regional integer clock, the RMS error of a kinematic ambiguity-fixed PPP solution in the horizontal direction could reach 0.5 cm. In terms of initialisation time, the average time to first fix (TTFF) in combined GPS/BDS PPP was shortened from 18.2 min to 12.7 min. In view of the high AR performance realised with the use of regional integer clocks, this method can be applied to scenarios that require high positioning accuracy, such as deformation monitoring.     

Measuring atmospheric density using GPS–LEO tracking data

We present a method to estimate the total neutral atmospheric density from precise orbit determination of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. We derive the total atmospheric density by determining the drag force acting on the LEOs through centimeter-level reduced-dynamic precise orbit determination (POD) using onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking data. The precision of the estimated drag accelerations is assessed using various metrics, including differences between estimated along-track accelerations from consecutive 30-h POD solutions which overlap by 6 h, comparison of the resulting accelerations with accelerometer measurements, and comparison against an existing atmospheric density model, DTM-2000. We apply the method to GPS tracking data from CHAMP, GRACE, SAC-C, Jason-2, TerraSAR-X and COSMIC satellites, spanning 12 years (2001–2012) and covering orbital heights from 400 km to 1300 km. Errors in the estimates, including those introduced by deficiencies in other modeled forces (such as solar radiation pressure and Earth radiation pressure), are evaluated and the signal and noise levels for each satellite are analyzed. The estimated density data from CHAMP, GRACE, SAC-C and TerraSAR-X are identified as having high signal and low noise levels. These data all have high correlations with anominal atmospheric density model and show common features in relative residuals with respect to the nominal model in related parameter space. On the contrary, the estimated density data from COSMIC and Jason-2 show errors larger than the actual signal at corresponding altitudes thus having little practical value for this study. The results demonstrate that this method is applicable to data from a variety of missions and can provide useful total neutral density measurements for atmospheric study up to altitude as high as 715 km, with precision and resolution between those derived from traditional special orbital perturbation analysis and those obtained from onboard accelerometers.     

Nonlinear filtering methods for spacecraft navigation based on differential algebra

The paper investigates the problem of nonlinear filtering applied to spacecraft navigation. Differential algebraic (DA) techniques are proposed as a valuable tool to implement the higher-order numerical and analytic extended Kalman filters. Working in the DA framework allows us to consistently reduce the required computational effort without losing accuracy. The performance of the proposed filters is assessed on different orbit determination problems with realistic orbit uncertainties. The case of nonlinear measurements is also considered. Numerical simulations show the good performance of the filter in case of both complex dynamics and highly nonlinear measurement problems.     

基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道方法

由于卫星轨道观测数据中含有非线性影响因素,必然会降低定轨精度。在半参数 回归模型的基础上,应用小波阈值去噪算法估计并消除观测数据中存在的非线性影响因素, 提出了基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道的方法,以提高定轨精度;然后,在理论 上证明了在测量数据存在非线性影响因素的情形下,基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星 轨道方法的定轨精度高于经典的批处理定轨精度;最后,对中低轨卫星应用批处理定轨进行 了仿真。结果表明：基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道方法分离出观测数据中的 白噪声和非线性影响因素,从而可以在观测数据中消除非线性影响因素,提高定轨的精度。     

天基低轨空间监视雷达密集短弧观测数据的定轨应用研究

当天基雷达采用多波束扫描时,每次与空间目标交会可获取类似跟踪的观测数据。本文讨论了这些密集短弧观测数据在目标轨道改进中的应用。在没有测量时,采用矩阵Ricatti方程计算状态误差;引入观测数据时,比较了EKF和UKF两种滤波算法的轨道改进效果。仿真表明,UKF的收敛速度优于EKF;天基短弧观测数据可以很好地抑制误差发散,满足监视任务需求。     

Use of two-line element data for thermosphere neutral density model calibration

Traditional empirical thermospheric density models are widely used in orbit determination and prediction of low-Earth satellites. Unfortunately, these models often exhibit large density errors of up to around 30% RMS. Density errors translate into orbit errors, adversely affecting applications such as re-entry operations, manoeuvre planning, collision avoidance and precise orbit determination for geodetic missions. The extensive database of two-line element (TLE) orbit data contains a wealth of information on satellite drag, at a sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution to allow a calibration of existing neutral density models with a latency of one to two days. In our calibration software, new TLE data for selected objects is converted to satellite drag data on a daily basis. The resulting drag data is then used in a daily adjustment of density model calibration parameters, which modify the output of an existing empirical density model with the aim of increasing its accuracy. Two different calibration schemes have been tested using TLE data for about 50 objects during the year 2000. The schemes involve either height-dependent scale factors to the density or corrections to CIRA-72 model temperatures, which affect the density output based on a physical model. Both schemes have been applied with different spherical harmonic expansions of the parameters in latitude and local solar time. Five TLE objects, varying in perigee altitude between 280 and 530 km, were deliberately not used during calibration, in order to provide independent validation. Even with a single daily parameter, the RMS density model error along their tracks can already be reduced from the 30% to the 15% level. Adding additional parameters results in RMS errors lower than 12%.     

通过超实时仿真验证轨控策略方法研究

"嫦娥一号"卫星任务中轨道复杂、轨控次数多,为保证每一次轨控的成功,需要考虑各种约束条件制定最优轨控策略,并能得以验证。本文提出通过超实时仿真验证轨控策略的方法,并以某次轨控为例,详细介绍了该方法的实施步骤。通过超实时仿真验证轨控策略可以评估轨控策略的准确性,并实现在任务执行过程中对轨控相关指令的检验。     

编队飞行卫星群相对轨道摄动运动分析

编队飞行卫星群在运行过程中将受到各种摄动因素的影响,相对运动队形可能受到破坏而影响飞行任务的完成。针对中、低轨道编队飞行任务,分析了各种摄动因素对编队卫星相对队形的影响;导出了编队飞行卫星群相对队形的稳定条件;最后,结合稳定条件对典型编队队形进行了分析。     

测量带有常值偏差时卫星自主定轨系统可观性分析

考虑测量带有常值偏差时卫星自主定轨系统的状态观测和常值偏差估计问题,将观测常值偏差扩增为状态后进行卡尔曼滤波是解决这一问题的一个途径。为使卡尔曼滤波稳定,就必须分析系统的随机可观测性。文章利用线性时变系统的可观性理论对测量带有常值偏差时卫星自主定轨系统的可观性进行了分析,数值仿真结果显示了所得理论的正确性。