GPS-derived orbits for the GOCE satellite

The first ESA (European Space Agency) Earth explorer core mission GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) was launched on 17 March 2009 into a sun-synchronous dusk–dawn orbit with an exceptionally low initial altitude of about 280 km. The onboard 12-channel dual-frequency GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver delivers...

GOCE SSTI L2 tracking losses and their impact on POD performance

The state-of-the-art GOCE Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Instrument (SSTI) delivers high-quality GPS data with an almost continuous 1 Hz data rate, which allows for very Precise Orbit Determination (POD). Despite this good performance, the GPS receiver shows occasional unexpected L2 tracking losses, which mainly occur close to the geomagnetic...

Aiming at a 1-cm orbit for low earth orbiters: Reduced-dynamic and kinematic precise orbit determination

The computation of high-accuracy orbits is a prerequisite for the success of Low Earth Orbiter (LEO) missions such as CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE. The mission objectives of these satellites cannot be reached without computing orbits with an accuracy at the few cm level. Such a level of accuracy might be achieved with the techniques of reduced-dynamic...