Miniature Space GPS Receiver by means of Automobile-Navigation Technology(WSANE2007)

Miniature space GPS receivers have been developed by means of automobile-navigation technology. We expanded the frequency sweep range in order to cover large Doppler shift on orbit. We tested the performance in low earth orbits by means of a GPS simulator. The range error caused by the receiver is measured to be 0.9m in RMS. The receiver is tolerant for 20krad radiation. Receiver was on-boarded on INDEX (“REIMEI”) satellite, which was launched in 2005. Cold start positioning is confirmed repeatedly to finish within 30min on orbit. The short term random error of GPS positioning is as large as 1.5m for PDDP = 2.7 on orbit. The range error due to the receiver is 0.5m RMS from the flight data. These results on orbit are consistent with the simulation results by means of a GPS simulator. This miniature space GPS receiver is promising as an inexpensive space GPS receiver in commercial market.