The Feasibility of Using Small, Low-Cost Satellites (Econosats) as an Augmentation to GNSS and as an Eventual Fully Capable GNSS

Keith McDonald and Jim Nussbaum

Abstract:	There has been substantial interest during the past several years in the investigation of civil satellite-based systems to augment GPS (and possibly GLONASS) and as possible future elements of a civil Global Navigation Satel- lite System (GNSS). Developments in small, low-cost satellites (Econosats) and compatible launch vehicles have progressed rapidly. These spacecraft and boosters appear to provide excellent potential for becoming an important part of a future GNSS. This investigation addresses the feasibil- ity, performance, benefits and concerns of using Econosats for both the augment+on of a GNSS and as an eventual fully capable GNSS. The investigation assessed Econosat pay- loadrequirementsand analyzed current lightsats and booster capabilities, costs and orbital considerations. Econosat constellation options are discussed and the system deploy- ment costs for various candidate GNSS constellations are evaluated. It is shown that important new features could be incorporated into GNSS augmented with Econosats and that a future GNSS based in part or entirely on Econosats appears feasible technically and to have attractive cost attributes. Many technical, funding, institutional and international is- sues are involved and need to be explored.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1993 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 20 - 22, 1993 Parc 55 Hotel San Francisco, CA
Pages:	605 - 612
Cite this article:	McDonald, Keith, Nussbaum, Jim, "The Feasibility of Using Small, Low-Cost Satellites (Econosats) as an Augmentation to GNSS and as an Eventual Fully Capable GNSS," Proceedings of the 1993 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Francisco, CA, January 1993, pp. 605-612.
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