Frequency Transfer in Space with GPS Measurements

Sien-Chong Wu and Sung Byun

Abstract:	High precision frequency transfer at the 10–16 level onboard the International Space Station (ISS) is required for successful demonstration of the potential ultra-precise reference clocks in space. Three different estimation schemes for frequency transfer in space using GPS measurements are investigated and compared. A covariance/simulation analysis is carried out to assess the potential accuracy for the frequency transfer with simultaneous kinematic determination of the spacecraft orbit. GPS visibility blockage and multipath effects due to the complex spacecraft body, being the major limitation on the frequency transfer accuracy, are assessed with a multipath simulator based on a simplified ISS body. The results of the analysis indicate that 10–16–level frequency transfer accuracy can be attained with a highquality GPS receiver, proper antenna placement and beam pointing/shaping so as to minimize the observing window blockage and multipath effects, and near-optimal filtering scheme.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001) September 11 - 14, 2001 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	2256 - 2262
Cite this article:	Wu, Sien-Chong, Byun, Sung, "Frequency Transfer in Space with GPS Measurements," Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2001, pp. 2256-2262.
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