Navigation and Timing Accuracy at the 30 Centimeter and Subnanosecond Level

Neil Ashby and David W. Allan

Abstract:	Clocks with accuracies exceeding 1 x lo-l3 can now be placed in orbit. Here we carry out a worst- case systematic error analysis of ground-based Doppler observations of signals from such a satellite to ascer- tain how well all the SV orbital parameters can be de- termined. The classical Keplerian relationship, T* = 47r2a3/GA4, provides a way for accllrate determination of the semi-major axis a thro~q$ mcasrirement of t,lie orbital period T of a SV-borne> clock. Simple calcula- tious show that au accuracy of 1 x 10- ‘I’ t,rauslaLes to au uncertainty in the length of the radius vect,or of 7.2 cm. To achieve such accuracy, a drag-free syst,em is needed in the satellite to satisfy the free-fall orbital conditions. Because of the potential importance of such accuracy, the purpose of this paper to consider all relevant rela- tivistic effects, and other important error terms.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996) September 17 - 20, 1996 Kansas City, MO
Pages:	1183 - 1202
Cite this article:	Ashby, Neil, Allan, David W., "Navigation and Timing Accuracy at the 30 Centimeter and Subnanosecond Level," Proceedings of the 9th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1996), Kansas City, MO, September 1996, pp. 1183-1202.
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