Precise Orbit Determination with GPS

Abstract: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is likely to become a powerful means in precise orbit determination (POD) of low-orbiting Earth satellites as long as it can fully cover the satellites. With its continuous tracking and coverage capabilities, this system can realize not only conventional dynamic precise orbit determination, but kinematic orbit determination as well. Technically, by smoothing the pseudo-range measurement values derived from at least four GPS satellites by using the carrier wave measurement values, the geocentric position at the phase center of the antenna and the clock correction values of the user satellites can be determined. Therefore, the foregoing technology does not require a dynamic model to impose a force on a user satellite