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Unidirectional Orbit Determination for Extended Users Based on Navigation Ka-Band Inter-Satellite Links
Yong Shangguan1,2, Hua Zhang1, Yong Yu2
1School of Information Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 26, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a new Ka-band inter-satellite link technology for precise orbit determination of spacecraft without atomic clocks. It achieves 100m accuracy, enhancing navigation satellite system capabilities for extended users.
Area of Science:
- Spacecraft orbit determination
- Satellite navigation systems
- Ka-band inter-satellite links
Background:
- Traditional orbit determination methods (ground stations, GNSS) face limitations in efficiency, cost, and precision for high-orbit satellites.
- Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) offer limited coverage and signal strength for high-orbit applications.
- Extended users (satellites, aircraft) require robust orbit determination, especially when ground tracking is unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an innovative unidirectional orbit-determination technology for extended users leveraging Ka-band inter-satellite links.
- To enable high-precision orbit determination for users without atomic clocks, addressing weight and power constraints.
- To improve time-frequency synchronization and communication capabilities for extended users.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Ka-band inter-satellite links for distance measurements between navigation satellites.
- Constructing clock error models, calculating parameters, and compensating for clock errors.
- Establishing a mechanical model and state-transfer matrix using bidirectional ranging values for orbit calculation.
Main Results:
- Achieved high-precision time-frequency synchronization, enhancing accuracy by three and two orders of magnitude, respectively.
- Enabled orbit determination with an accuracy of less than 100 meters.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of using minimal inter-satellite link time slot resources for orbit determination.
Conclusions:
- The developed technology provides a robust solution for high-precision orbit determination for extended users lacking atomic clocks.
- This advancement offers significant technical support for emergency communication and orbit determination using Ka-band inter-satellite links.
- Represents a breakthrough in China for extended users accessing navigation inter-satellite links for precise orbit determination.
Keywords:
Ka-band inter-satellite linksemergency communicationorbit determinationsatellite navigation systemtime–frequency synchronizationMore Related Videos
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