Use of Two GPS Receivers in Order to Perform Space Vehicle Orbital Rendezvous

Lubomyr V. Zyla, Moises N. Montez

Abstract:	This paper discusses the use of two GPS receivers to achieve high accuracy relative navigation and rendezvous. A model mission for such an application is the upcoming NASA/ESA Astro- SPAS/Mini-SPAS flight experiment to be conducted in October of 1997 on ST!+91. This paper compares relative accuracies obtainable through simple state vector differencing and also a custom relative state filter design. Some of the factors considered in this study are : Mixed PPS, SF5 receiver selection on the two vehicles, varying filter designs between the two GPS receivers on the different vehicles, dual frequency versus single frequency receiver selection, and the use of a master processing filter to combine both sets of raw measurements on the active vehicle. The effect of imperfect satellite coordination is assessed. Clock coasting (processing 3 satellites) is analyzed as a possible receiver option when satellite coordination is imperfect. Looming over the analysis is the presence of selective availability. The authors use the latest high fidelity selective availability models to assess the effect of SA. The overriding consideration in assessing all design options is minimizing data transfer across the two space vehicles and controlling vehicle computational requirements.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1993) September 22 - 24, 1993 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	301 - 312
Cite this article:	Zyla, Lubomyr V., Montez, Moises N., "Use of Two GPS Receivers in Order to Perform Space Vehicle Orbital Rendezvous," Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1993), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1993, pp. 301-312.
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