Test Results of the PiVoT Receiver in High Earth Orbits using a GSS GPS Simulator

M.C. Moreau, P. Axelrad, J.L. Garrison, M. Wennersten and A.C. Long

Abstract:	There is widespread interest in expanding the use of GPS for real-time on-orbit navigation of satellites or satellite constellations in highly eccentric or geostationary orbits. Recent studies have indicated that GPS is a viable option for these missions when used with an orbit determination filter to sequentially process sparsely available pseudorange measurements. Several organizations have undertaken efforts to develop new space GPS receivers that will satisfy this need. This paper presents results of tests conducted on the PiVoT GPS receiver under development at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. A variety of design enhancements are being incorporated in the PiVoT receiver to enable its operation in a wide variety of high Earth orbits (HEO). Some of these features include integration of the GPS Enhanced Orbit Navigation System (GEONS), a good quality local oscillator, a robust clock model, and enhancements to basic receiver acquisition and tracking algorithms to enhance the ability of the receiver to track weaker GPS signals present in HEO. A realistic HEO test capability has been developed using a Global Satellite Systems (GSS) GPS simulator at NASA GSFC. The hardware in-theloop test setup is detailed, including specific measures that have been implemented to allow a realistic simulation of HEO signals. Initial results from tests of the PiVoT receiver tracking in a geostationary orbit are presented. With only minimal modifications to satellite acquisition algorithms, the existing PiVoT receiver was able to track main lobe and side lobe signals in the geostationary orbit.
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:	2316 - 2326
Cite this article:	Moreau, M.C., Axelrad, P., Garrison, J.L., Wennersten, M., Long, A.C., "Test Results of the PiVoT Receiver in High Earth Orbits using a GSS GPS Simulator," 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. 2316-2326.
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