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Research on Attitude Models and Antenna Phase Center Correction for Jason-3 Satellite Orbit Determination
Mingming Liu1,2, Yunbin Yuan3, Jikun Ou4
1State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 340 Xudong Rd., Wuhan 430077, China. lium@asch.whigg.ac.cn.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 30, 2019
Summary
A new combined attitude mode for Jason-3 precise orbit determination (POD) improves orbital accuracy. Introducing receiver phase center variations (PCVs) further enhances millimeter-level precision, crucial for satellite positioning.
Area of Science:
- Satellite dynamics and geodesy
- Precise orbit determination (POD)
Background:
- Jason-3 precise orbit determination (POD) relies on accurate modeling of satellite attitude and instrument characteristics.
- Existing attitude modes may have limitations in specific scenarios, impacting POD accuracy.
- Receiver Phase Center Variations (PCVs) are known to influence precise positioning but require integrated analysis with attitude models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a combined attitude mode for Jason-3 POD, especially for situations lacking quaternion data.
- To investigate the impact of different attitude modes and receiver phase center variations (PCVs) on POD accuracy.
- To quantify the improvements in orbital accuracy achieved by integrating the combined attitude mode and PCV modeling.
Main Methods:
- Designed and implemented a combined attitude mode for Jason-3 based on experimental analysis.
- Analyzed the effects of various attitude modes (including the combined mode) on receiver phase center offset (PCO) estimation and POD.
- Introduced receiver PCVs into the POD process and evaluated their impact alongside different attitude modes through eight integrated schemes.
Main Results:
- The combined attitude mode demonstrated slightly more stable orbital accuracies compared to the attitude event file.
- Incorporating receiver PCVs reduced mean residuals RMS by 1.9 mm and improved orbital 3D-RMS position difference by 5.7 mm.
- The combined attitude mode proved feasible for integrated POD and can serve as a revision to the attitude event file, with millimeter-level accuracy improvements when PCVs are included.
Conclusions:
- The developed combined attitude mode is effective and enhances Jason-3 POD accuracy.
- The integration of receiver PCVs consistently improves orbital accuracy across different attitude modes.
- Optimal Jason-3 POD results achieved an orbital mean radial RMS close to 1 cm and a 3D-RMS position difference within 3 cm.
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