Real Time On-board Orbit Determination of GEO Satellites Using Software or Hardware Correlation

Michael Mittnacht and Walter Fichter

Abstract:	Geostationary orbit determination using GPS is an attrac- tive option besides existing ground based orbit determi- nation techniques. This paper addresses the commercial application of GPS receivers for geostationary naviga- tion. The investigations and system trade-offs presented here are based on the MosaicGNSS receiver which is cur- rently under development at Astrium GmbH. The re- ceiver hardware is outlined and a review of the properties of a geostationary mission with respect to GPS applica- tions is given. The major issues of geostationary GPS navigation are weak signal-to-noise-density ratio and poor geometrical satellite distribution and visibility. The paper describes two alternative navigation schemes for geostationary applications and discusses the advantages and drawbacks. The second main topic is the discussion of software versus hardware correlation with respect to the special conditions in geostationary orbit.
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:	1976 - 1984
Cite this article:	Mittnacht, Michael, Fichter, Walter, "Real Time On-board Orbit Determination of GEO Satellites Using Software or Hardware Correlation," 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. 1976-1984.
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