Abstract
China’s COMPASS satellite navigation system consists of five or more geostationary (GEO) satellites. The roles of GEO satellites are to improve the regional user’s positioning accuracy and provide the continuous Radio Determination Satellite Service. The motion of GEO satellites relative to a ground tracking station is almost fixed, and regular orbit maneuvers are necessary to maintain the satellites’ allocated positions above the equator. These features present difficulties in precise orbit determination (POD). C-band ranging via onboard transponders and the L-band pseudo-ranging technique have been used in the COMPASS system. This paper introduces VLBI tracking, which has been successfully employed in the Chinese lunar exploration programs Chang’E-1 and Chang’E-2, to the POD of GEO satellites. In contrast to ranging, which measures distances between a GEO satellite and an observer, VLBI is an angular measurement technique that constrains the satellite’s position errors perpendicular to the satellite-to-observer direction. As a demonstration, the Chinese VLBI Network organized a tracking and orbit-determination experiment for a GEO navigation satellite lasting 24 h. This paper uses the VLBI delay and delay-rate data, in combination with C-band ranging data, to determine the GEO satellite’s orbit. The accuracies of the VLBI delay and delay rate data are about 3.6 ns and 0.4 ps/s, respectively. Data analysis shows that the VLBI data are able to calibrate systematic errors of the C-band ranging data, and the combination of the two observations improves orbit prediction accuracy with short-arc data, which is important for orbital recovery after maneuvers of GEO satellites. With the implementation of VLBI2010, it is possible for VLBI to be applied in the COMPASS satellite navigation system.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Liu J Y, Li Z H, Wang Y H, et al. Principle and Application of Global Positioning System (in Chinese). Bejing: Surveying and Mapping Press, 1993
Zhou S S, Hu X G, Wu B. Orbit determination and prediction accuracy analysis for a regional tracking network. Sci China Phys Mech Astron, 2010, 53: 1130–1138
Ou J K, Liu J H, Sun B Q, et al. Precision orbit determination of a geostationary satellite GEO with mirror surface projection method (in Chinese). Geomat Inform Sci Wuhan Univ, 2007, 32: 975–979
Du L. A study of the precise orbit determination of geostationary satellites (in Chinese). Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Zhengzhou: Information Engineering University, 2006
Huang Y, Hu X G, Huang C, et al. Precise orbit determination of a maneuvered GEO satellite using CAPS ranging data. Sci China Ser G Phys Mech Astron, 2009, 52: 346–352
Yang X H, Li Z G, Feng C G, et al. Methods of rapid orbit forecasting after maneuvers for geostationary satellites. Sci China Ser G Phys Mech Astron, 2009, 52: 333–338
Guo R, Hu X G, Tang B, et al. Precise orbit determination for geostationary satellites with multiple tracking techniques. Chinese Sci Bull, 2010, 55: 687–692
Yan J G, Ping J S, Li F, et al. Chang’E-1 precision orbit determination and lunar gravity field solution. Adv Space Res, 2010, 46: 50–57
Guo R, Hu X G, Liu L, et al. Orbit determination for geostationary satellites with the combination of transfer ranging and pseudorange data. Sci China Phys Mech Astron, 2010, 53: 1746–1754
Du L, Zheng Y, Li J. VLBI2 augmented orbit determination for geostationary satellites (in Chinese). J Zhengzhou Inst Survey Map, 2006, 23: 269–271
Ye S H, Huang C. Astro-Geodynamics (in Chinese). Jinan: Shandong Science & Technology Press, 1981
Hong X Y. VLBI techniques and application in the Chang’E lunar orbiter (in Chinese). Nat Mag, 2007, 29: 297–299
Zhu X Y, Li C L, Zhang H B. A survey of VLBI technique for deep space exploration and trend in China current situation and development (in Chinese). J Astron, 2010, 31: 1893–1899
Cao J F, Huang Y, Hu X G, et al. Mars express tracking and orbit determination trials with Chinese VLBI network. Chinese Sci Bull, 2010, 55: 3654–3660
Pet R B, Niell A, Behrend D, et al. Design aspects of the VLBI2010 system. IVS Annual Report, USA, 2009
Li J L, Wei E H, Sun Z M, et al. Discussion on future configuration design of Chinese astrometric and geodetic VLBI network (in Chinese). Geomat Inform Sci Wuhan Univ, 2010, 35: 670–673
Xia J C, Li J L, Han Y B. On the next generation of the VLBI system- VLBI2010 (in Chinese). Prog Geophys, 2010, 25: 1623–16
Tornatore V, Haas R. Considerations on the observation of GNSS-signals with the VLBI2010 system. In: Proceedings of the 19th European VLBI for Geodesy and Astrometry Working Meeting, Bordeaux, 2009
Hu X G, Huang C, Qian Z H. Space VLBI and its applications in astrogeodynamics (in Chinese). Prog Astron, 1998, 16: 177–186
Du L, Zheng Y, Zhang H W, et al. Phase ambiguity and location of tracking sites of orbit determination of GEO satellite (in Chinese). J Zhengzhou Inst Survey Map, 2003, 20: 100–102
Ping J S. The research on observation of spacecrafts by VLBI in the solar system (in Chinese). Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Shanghai: Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1996
Liu Q H, Shi X, Kikuchi F, et al. High-accuracy same-beam VLBI observations using Shanghai and Urumqi telescopes. Sci China Ser G Phys Mech Astron, 2009, 52: 1858–1866
Goossens S, Matsumoto K, Ishihara Y, et al. Results for orbit determination of the three satellites of Kaguya. J Geod Soc Jpn, 2009, 55: 255–268
Ai G X, Shi H L, Wu H T, et al. The principle of positioning system based on communication satellites. Sci China Ser G Phys Mech Astron, 2009, 52: 472–488
Li Z G, Yang X H, Ai G X, et al. A new method for determination of satellite orbits by transfer. Sci China Ser G Phys Mech Astron, 2009, 52: 384–392
Hu X Y, Huang Y, Hu X G. On the second order clock bias model in orbit determination for the MEO satellite (in Chinese). J Astron, 2009, 30: 924–929
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Rights and permissions
This article is published under an open access license. Please check the 'Copyright Information' section either on this page or in the PDF for details of this license and what re-use is permitted. If your intended use exceeds what is permitted by the license or if you are unable to locate the licence and re-use information, please contact the Rights and Permissions team.
About this article
Cite this article
Huang, Y., Hu, X., Zhang, X. et al. Improvement of orbit determination for geostationary satellites with VLBI tracking. Chin. Sci. Bull. 56, 2765–2772 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4647-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4647-0