Preliminary Orbital Results from the SGR Space GPS Receiver

M.J. Unwin, M.K. Oldfield, S. Purivigraipong, Y. Hashida, P.L. Palmer and Ian Kitching

Abstract:	This paper describes a practical experiment intended to demonstrate the concept of formation flying in orbit. SNAP-I and Tsinghua-I are two small satellites launched on a DNEPR launcher from Plesetsk on 28 th June 2000. Each satellite is equipped with SSTL's GPS receivers, the SGR-05 and the SGR-10 respectively. SNAP-I has a mass of only 6.5 kg, but also carries an innovative mono-propellant propulsion system based on butane to permit it to rendezvous with Tsinghua-l. Once the two satellites approach, SNAP will use its miniaturised camera systems to take images of Tsinghua to fully test and prove the processes required to achieve real formation flying. This paper describes the SNAP-1 and Tsinghua-1 missions, the technology carried on each, the plans for formation flying, and preliminary orbital results.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000) September 19 - 22, 2000 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	1608 - 1611
Cite this article:	Unwin, M.J., Oldfield, M.K., Purivigraipong, S., Hashida, Y., Palmer, P.L., Kitching, Ian, "Preliminary Orbital Results from the SGR Space GPS Receiver," Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2000, pp. 1608-1611.
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