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Observed features of GPS Block IIF satellite yaw maneuvers and corresponding modeling

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Abstract

After comparing the modeled and the estimated yaw angles during yaw maneuvers for eight Block IIF Global Positioning System satellites over 1 year, we have observed discrepancies between the yaw directions in the vicinity of zero beta angle. Two features of the turn maneuvers are extracted after analysis of the observed differences: (1) The noon-turns reverse yaw direction when the beta angle falls between [−0.7°, 0°]; (2) midnight-turns always take the direction that completes <180° of total yaw. We present the approach implemented to account for the discrepancies between the observed and modeled yaw attitudes. In particular, an empirical beta angle bias is applied in the noon-turn model to correct the yaw direction error, and a short-route constraint is applied in the midnight-turn model for more robust performance.

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Acknowledgments

The work described is carried out by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We are thankful to Yoaz Bar-Sever for helpful discussions on the original Block IIF GPS satellite yaw model. The effort by our colleagues in creating and maintaining the routine RPPP solutions of GPS satellites yaw attitude is gratefully appreciated. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions broadened our knowledge about related studies in the IGS community and made this paper more robust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Da Kuang, Shailen Desai & Aurore Sibois

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  1. Da Kuang
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  2. Shailen Desai
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  3. Aurore Sibois
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Correspondence to Da Kuang.

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Kuang, D., Desai, S. & Sibois, A. Observed features of GPS Block IIF satellite yaw maneuvers and corresponding modeling. GPS Solut 21, 739–745 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-016-0562-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-016-0562-9

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