On-Orbit GPS Based Attitude & Antenna Baseline Estimation

Penina Axelrad and Lisa M. Ward

Abstract:	This paper describes a set of algorithms which could provide reliable, high accuracy attitude determination for near Earth satellites using GPS differential phase observations. The objective is to “bootstrap” from a rough estimate of vehicle attitude and antenna locations, to a high accuracy filter which provides attitude to within 0.5 deg. The first stage is an initial attitude estimator required to resolve integer ambiguities and approximate line biases: the second stage is a baseline estimator which improves the knowledge of the relative coordinates of the antennas; the final stage is an extended Kalman filter which incorporates knowledge of vehicle dynamics to provide the best estimate of vehicle attitude in real-time. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated using simulated data designed to emulate the operation of the Trimble Quadrex receiver onboard RADCAL. We hope to successfully apply the same techniques to actual flight data shortly.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1994 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 24 - 26, 1994 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	441 - 450
Cite this article:	Axelrad, Penina, Ward, Lisa M., "On-Orbit GPS Based Attitude & Antenna Baseline Estimation," Proceedings of the 1994 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1994, pp. 441-450.
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