GOCE – Validation of last days’ orbits with kinematic PPP

The AIUB has been responsible for the precise science orbit determination of the satellite, which included both a reduced-dynamic and a kinematic orbit solution. The orbit determination procedures are based on GPS zero-difference processing and follow the precise point positioning principle that the GPS orbits and clocks are used from a global network solution. Since the reduced-dynamic orbit is less sensitive to data problems and possible gaps it was used among others to validate the quality of the kinematic orbit during the nominal mission period until 21 October 2013.