Orbital War Driving: Assessing Transient GPS Interference from LEO

Daniel M. LaChapelle, Lakshay Narula, Todd E. Humphreys

Abstract:	Low Earth orbit provides a unique vantage point for observing GNSS interference: it is close enough to the source of the interference for a single sensor to characterize the strength, power spectra, and signal content of terrestrial jamming and spoofing sources, but far enough that authentic GNSS signals may still be tracked and navigation solutions computed. These observations permit geo-referenced characterization of terrestrial GNSS interference, which is an important step on the way to understanding the extent of the phenomenon and developing mitigation strategies. By working directly on 100 Hz data-wiped complex IQ correlation products instead of lower-frequency receiver products, it is possible to identify interference with greater sensitivity, permitting detection not long after it is first received. Successive ground passes of the Fast, Orbital, TEC, Observables, and Navigation (FOTON) receiver aboard the International Space Station (ISS) form an impressively complete GNSS interference survey of the globe at latitudes below the ISS inclination of 51.6 degrees.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 34th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2021) September 20 - 24, 2021 Union Station Hotel St. Louis, Missouri
Pages:	3556 - 3568
Cite this article:	LaChapelle, Daniel M., Narula, Lakshay, Humphreys, Todd E., "Orbital War Driving: Assessing Transient GPS Interference from LEO," Proceedings of the 34th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2021), St. Louis, Missouri, September 2021, pp. 3556-3568. https://doi.org/10.33012/2021.17986
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