The adjusted optical properties for Galileo/BeiDou-2/QZS-1 satellites and initial results on BeiDou-3e and QZS-2 satellites

Abstract Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) is the dominant non-gravitational perturbation for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellites. In the absence of precise surface models, the Empirical CODE Orbit Models (ECOM, ECOM2) are widely used in GNSS satellite orbit determination. Based on previous studies, the use of an a priori box-wing model enhances the ECOM model, especially if the spacecraft is a stretched body satellite. However, so far not all the GNSS system providers have published their metadata. To ensure a precise use of the a priori box-wing model, we estimate the optical parameters of all the Galileo, BeiDou-2, and QZS-1 (Quasi Zenith Satellite System) satellites based on the physical processes from SRP to acceleration. Validation using orbit prediction proves that the adjusted parameters of Galileo and QZS-1 satellites exhibit almost the same performance as the corresponding published and “best guess” values. Whereas, the estimated parameters of BeiDou-2 satellites demonstrate an improvement of more than 60% over the initial “guess” values. The resulting optical parameters of all the satellites are introduced into an a priori box-wing model, which is jointly used with ECOM and ECOM2 model in the orbit determination. Results show that the pure ECOM2 model exhibits better performance than the pure ECOM model for Galileo, BeiDou-2 GEO and QZS-1 orbits. Combined with the a priori box-wing model the ECOM model (ECOM+BW) results in the best Galileo, BeiDou-2 GEO and QZS-1 orbits. The standard deviation (STD) of satellite laser ranging residuals reduce by about 20% and 5% with respect to the pure ECOM2 model for Galileo and BeiDou-2 GEO orbits, while the reductions are about 40% and 60% for QZS-1 orbits in yaw-steering and orbit-normal mode respectively. BeiDou-2 IGSO and MEO satellite orbits do not benefit much from the a priori box-wing model. In summary, we suggest setting up a unified SRP model of ECOM+BW for Galileo, QZS-1, and BeiDou-2 orbits based on the adjusted metadata. In addition, we estimate the optical parameters of BeiDou-3e and QZS-2 satellites using a limited number of tracking stations. Results regarding the unified SRP model indicate the same advantages, the STD of satellite laser ranging residuals reduces by about 30% and 20% for QZS-2 and BeiDou-3e orbits respectively over orbit products without a priori model. The estimation procedure is effective and easy to apply to the new emerging satellites in the future.

[1]  R. Dach,et al.  CODE’s new solar radiation pressure model for GNSS orbit determination , 2015, Journal of Geodesy.

[2]  Michael R Pearlman,et al.  THE INTERNATIONAL LASER RANGING SERVICE , 2007 .

[3]  P. Farinella,et al.  Non-gravitational perturbations and satellite geodesy , 1987 .

[4]  H. Fliegel,et al.  Global Positioning System Radiation Force Model for geodetic applications , 1992 .

[5]  Akihiro Matsumoto,et al.  Design concept of Quasi Zenith Satellite System , 2009 .

[6]  U. Hugentobler,et al.  Impact of Earth radiation pressure on GPS position estimates , 2012, Journal of Geodesy.

[7]  Qile Zhao,et al.  An a priori solar radiation pressure model for the QZSS Michibiki satellite , 2018, Journal of Geodesy.

[8]  Rolf Dach,et al.  CODE’s five-system orbit and clock solution—the challenges of multi-GNSS data analysis , 2017, Journal of Geodesy.

[9]  Peter Steigenberger,et al.  Semi-analytical solar radiation pressure modeling for QZS-1 orbit-normal and yaw-steering attitude , 2017 .

[10]  Qile Zhao,et al.  Precise orbit determination for quad-constellation satellites at Wuhan University: strategy, result validation, and comparison , 2016, Journal of Geodesy.

[11]  Peter Steigenberger,et al.  GIOVE-B solar radiation pressure modeling for precise orbit determination , 2015 .

[12]  Xingxing Li,et al.  Accuracy and reliability of multi-GNSS real-time precise positioning: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo , 2015, Journal of Geodesy.

[13]  L. Mervart,et al.  Extended orbit modeling techniques at the CODE processing center of the international GPS service for geodynamics (IGS): theory and initial results. , 1994 .

[14]  Jing Guo,et al.  Comparison of solar radiation pressure models for BDS IGSO and MEO satellites with emphasis on improving orbit quality , 2017, GPS Solutions.

[15]  Leos Mervart,et al.  Combining consecutive short arcs into long arcs for precise and efficient GPS Orbit Determination , 1996 .

[16]  Qile Zhao,et al.  Precise orbit and clock determination for BeiDou-3 experimental satellites with yaw attitude analysis , 2017, GPS Solutions.

[17]  Harald Schuh,et al.  Estimating the yaw-attitude of BDS IGSO and MEO satellites , 2015, Journal of Geodesy.

[18]  O. Montenbruck,et al.  Enhanced solar radiation pressure modeling for Galileo satellites , 2015, Journal of Geodesy.

[19]  P. Steigenberger,et al.  Adjustable box-wing model for solar radiation pressure impacting GPS satellites , 2012 .

[20]  Peter Steigenberger,et al.  Orbit and Clock Determination of QZS‐1 Based on the CONGO Network , 2012 .

[21]  Jingnan Liu,et al.  Solar Radiation Pressure Models for BeiDou-3 I2-S Satellite: Comparison and Augmentation , 2018, Remote. Sens..

[22]  H. Fliegel,et al.  Solar force modeling of block IIR Global Positioning System satellites , 1996 .

[23]  A. S. Ganeshan,et al.  GNSS Satellite Geometry and Attitude Models , 2015 .

[24]  Peter Steigenberger,et al.  Galileo Orbit and Clock Quality of the IGS Multi-GNSS Experiment , 2015 .

[25]  Peter Steigenberger,et al.  The Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service (IGS) - Achievements, prospects and challenges , 2017 .