Next Generation Scalable Spaceborne GNSS Science Receiver

J.Y. Tien, B. Bachman Okihiro, S.X. Esterhuizen, G.W. Franklin, T.K. Meehan, T.N. Munson, D.E. Robison, D. Turbiner, L.E. Young

Abstract:	Several upcoming NASA and NOAA missions require an advanced science-quality GNSS receiver as a mission-critical payload for cm-level precise orbit determination and/or Radio Occultation (RO) observations to meet their science objectives. The science and navigation requirements dictate that GNSS receivers track signals from GPS, GLONASS, and other GNSS systems as they become available. PL is developing the next generation GNSS receiver for flight called the TriG Receiver enabling continued access of precision orbit determination for remote sensing missions and the application of GNSS signals for the technically demanding RO and surface reflections observations. Derived from the NASA/JPL BlackJack receiver design, which has flown on over 16 spacecraft with over 115 years of successful operations, the TriG offers significantly enhanced capability to track more GNSS signals with higher SNR. The TriG receiver will track both the legacy and new signals from GPS as well as new GNSS signals from Galileo and GLONASS. The ability to track multiple GNSS satellite signals will improve both precision orbit determination and the quality and quantity of the RO measurements. The TriG receiver features several innovations including digital beam steering to produce multiple simultaneous high-gain beams, wideband open loop tracking, and an advanced “time delayed” signal processing algorithm. These innovations improve precision for RO in the upper atmosphere while also supporting the wider range in delay and Doppler shift necessary for full RO retrieval in the lower troposphere. The TriG receiver is implemented in scalable 3U architecture and is fully reconfigurable enabling optimization to meet specific mission requirements and spacecraft resource constraints. This paper will describe the TriG architecture, and how the new features will benefit the next-generation of global network instruments, as well as current test results.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2012 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 30 - 1, 2012 Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa Newport Beach, CA
Pages:	882 - 914
Cite this article:	Tien, J.Y., Okihiro, B. Bachman, Esterhuizen, S.X., Franklin, G.W., Meehan, T.K., Munson, T.N., Robison, D.E., Turbiner, D., Young, L.E., "Next Generation Scalable Spaceborne GNSS Science Receiver," Proceedings of the 2012 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Newport Beach, CA, January 2012, pp. 882-914.
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