Dynamic orbit determination using GPS measurements from TOPEX/POSEIDON

The GPS data acquired by the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) Demonstration Receiver (DR) have been used in a dynamic orbit determination, which was based on the description of the gravitational and nongravitational forces in the equations of motion. The GPS carrier phase data were processed in a double difference mode to remove clock errors, including the effects of Selective Availability. Simultaneous estimation of the T/P orbit and GPS orbits was performed using five 10-day cycles in the interval between December (1992) and April (1993). The resulting T/P orbits have been compared with the orbits determined from Satellite Laser Ranging, the French one-way Doppler tracking system, DORIS, and with the JPL reduced dynamic orbits obtained from the GPS/DR data. Using similar dynamic orbit determination strategies and force models with the GPS/DR to those used with SLR/DORIS, the radial component of the T/P orbit (based on JGM-2) was found to agree to better than 30 mm (rms) and 35 mm with the JPL reduced dynamic orbit. An experimental gravity tuning was accomplished using four cycles of GPS/DR data. The resulting GPS/DR-orbits, determined by the dynamic technique with the experimental gravity field, are in better agreement with the JPL reduced dynamic orbits in both the radial component (21–25 mm) and altimeter crossover residuals than the JGM-2 orbits.