Abstract
The paper discusses methods for determining the orbit of a low-orbit satellite — kinematic and dynamic. The kinematic method is sensitive to measurement errors and the continuity of code and carrier phase measurement data. In the dynamic method, the lack of measurement data is compensated by averaging measurements over a specific time interval; however, due to insufficient information about the satellite motion model, dynamic solutions diverge. To test the method, a testing scheme using a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal simulator is proposed, which allows reproducing the orbital motion of the satellite with specified parameters, including modeling the Earth’s gravitational field. A numerical analysis of the high-order gravitational potential harmonics influence on orbit determination accuracy is conducted. To achieve the required accuracy of 2–5 cm in height, it is necessary to use a gravitational field model at least up to the 70th order. The use of GNSS signal simulators is an economically efficient way to simulate orbital flight scenarios.
Keywords
satellite, high-precision orbit, navigation user equipment, gravitational potential, GNSS signal simulator, dynamic method, coordinate error
References
-
König R., Michalak G., Neumayer K.H., Schmidt R., Sheng Yuan Zhu, Meixner H., Reigber Ch. Recent developments in CHAMP orbit determination at GFZ // Earth Observation with CHAMP. Results from Three Years in Orbit / Ch. Reigber, H. Lühr, P. Schwintzer, J. Wickert (eds). Berlin: Springer, 2005. P. 65–70.
-
Beutler G. Methods of Celestial Mechanics. V. I: Physical, Mathematical, and Numerical Principles. Berlin: Springer, 2005. 466 p.
-
Voronetsky S.V., Zaychikov A.V., Fursov A.A. Determination of high-precision motion parameters of low-orbit satellites based on measurements of the onboard GNSS receiver. Methods, technologies, results and prospects. Vestnik SSUGT (Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies). 2019; 3: 17–25. EDN: DQTENU.
http:// doi.org/10.33764/2411-1759-2019-24-3-17-25.
-
Saunier J. The DORIS network: Advances achieved in the last fifteen years // Advances in Space Research. 2023. V. 72. № 1. P. 3–22.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr. 2022.07.016.
-
Rodríguez J.C., Appleby G.M. Satellite Laser Ranging // Handbook of Laser Technology and Applications. V. 4: Laser Applications. Medical, Metrology and Communication / Chunlei Guo, Chandra Subhash Singh (eds). 2nd edition. 2021. P. 181–198.
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003130123-12.
-
Wu S.C., Yunck Th.P., Thornton C.L. Reduced-dynamic technique for precise orbit determination of Low Earth Satellites // Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics. 1991. V. 14. № 1. P. 24–30.
http://doi.org/10.2514/3.20600.
-
Swatschina P. Dynamic and Reduced-Dynamic Precise Orbit Determination of Satellites in Low Earth Orbits. Vienna: Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation of the Vienna University of Technology, 2012. V. 89. 157 p. 8. Gill E., Montenbruck O. Comparison of GPS-based orbit d
-
Gill E., Montenbruck O. Comparison of GPS-based orbit determination strategies // Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ESA SP-548). 2004, 11–15 October, Munich, Germany. 169 p.
-
Montenbruck O., Helleputte T. van, Kroes R., Gill E. Reduced dynamic orbit determination using GPS code and carrier measurements // Aerospace Science and Technology. 2005. V. 9. № 3. P. 261–271.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2005.01.003.
-
Aksenov E.P. Theory of Motion of Artificial Earth Satellites. Moscow: Nauka; 1977. P. 360.
-
Duboshin G.N. Celestial Mechanics. Methods of the Theory of the Motion of Artificial Celestial Bodies. Moscow: Nauka; 1983. P. 352.
For citation
Pogulyaev D.I., Lopatin V.P. Assessment of orbit determination error for a low-orbit satellite and gradients of the gravitational potential based on global navigation satellite system user equipment measurements. Almanac of Modern Metrology. 2026; 45 (1): 51–62.
Financing
The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation within the framework of scientific project № 23-67-10007, https://rscf.ru/ project/23-67-10007/. Contribution of the auth
Contribution of the authors
The authors have made equivalent contributions to the preparation of the article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interest in connection with the research presented in this article.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0)
©
Dmitry I. Pogulyaev, Vladislav P. Lopatin, 2025
JATS XML
This work is available at Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.
Subscribe print journal.
