Space Environment Test and Evaluation of COTS GNSS Equipment for QZSS MADOCA-PPP in LEO Missions

Saya Matsushita, Toshitaka Sasaki, Hideki Yamada, Keito Yoshida, Masato Okeya, and Satoshi Kogure

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	Quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) provides highly precise positioning augmentation services, which consist of satellite orbit and clock correction through L6 signals. Precise point positioning (PPP) using this augmentation data realizes centimeter-level positioning accuracy in real-time. Applying this technology to future low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to enable real-time POD would contribute to the onboard processing of science data for observing natural phenomena, disaster monitoring, and meteorological forecasting. As the first step, JAXA plans to demonstrate the PPP algorithm “PPP in Space” in orbit. However, no space-grade global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers support the L6 signal yet, and developing space-qualified components has a long lead time and takes budget. For this reason, our project tries to use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) GNSS equipment by evaluating their resistance to the space environment. The utilization and application of COTS devices require thorough testing and reliability assurance in the expected environment. Vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and radiation tests were conducted to validate the usability of the GNSS devices under launch and in-orbit environments. This study clarifies how receivers and other devices behave in thermal vacuum and space radiation environments. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the QZSS L6 signal could be tracked even in orbit by the simulation of a receiver on a LEO satellite using the GNSS simulator. These results indicate the possibility of demonstrating PPP in Space using ground-based GNSS equipment on the LEO satellite.
Published in:	Proceedings of the ION 2024 Pacific PNT Meeting April 15 - 18, 2024 Hilton Waikiki Beach Honolulu, Hawaii
Pages:	795 - 807
Cite this article:	Matsushita, Saya, Sasaki, Toshitaka, Yamada, Hideki, Yoshida, Keito, Okeya, Masato, Kogure, Satoshi, "Space Environment Test and Evaluation of COTS GNSS Equipment for QZSS MADOCA-PPP in LEO Missions," Proceedings of the ION 2024 Pacific PNT Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, April 2024, pp. 795-807. https://doi.org/10.33012/2024.19648
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