A Study of Error Sources Relating to Test and Development of GPS Receivers for Attitude Sensing in Low Earth Orbit

Peter Boulton

Abstract:	The case for using GPS for attitude determination of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites is extremely powerful. A suitable GPS receiver represents a significant reduction in the mass and volume of this component of the pay load when compared with more ‘traditional’ techniques; a real bonus in these days of smaller, and hence hopefully less expensive, space vehicles. The system complexity is reduced since GPS in this application is potentially the sole means and offers unsurpassed potential accuracy. This accuracy parameter is much lauded, but there are a number of potential error sources at work and qualification of a system, prior to an expensive launch, should be at the forefront of every system requirement. This paper reviews the primary sources of error and their likely effects on a practical implementation. Since qualification prior to launch is assumed, this paper proposes the use of a dynamic GPS simulator to exercise the receiver in a carefully controlled and repeatable environment, which can be used to analyse many of the error sources individually. The error contribution of the Simulator itself to the overall test performance is discussed. Test results in a static terrestrial and LEO environment are presented.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994) September 20 - 23, 1994 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	1727 - 1735
Cite this article:	Boulton, Peter, "A Study of Error Sources Relating to Test and Development of GPS Receivers for Attitude Sensing in Low Earth Orbit," Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1994, pp. 1727-1735.
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