Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Precise orbit determination for BDS-3 GEO satellites enhanced by intersatellite links

  • Original Article
  • Published:
GPS Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites are an integral part of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). Precise orbit determination (POD) for GEO satellites is difficult due to their geostationary characteristics. The orbit determination accuracy that can be achieved based on regional tracking stations in China cannot satisfy high-precision service requirements. The third generation of BDS (BDS-3) is the first global navigation satellite system that synergistically uses regional monitoring stations and global intersatellite links (ISLs) to realize global service. In this study, the quality of ISL data is analyzed based on the residuals of the intersatellite clock offset and the observed-minus-computed residuals of the ISL data. The orbit determination accuracy is assessed based on the observation residuals, the multiday consistency of the ISL time delays, overlapping orbit comparison, the user equivalent range error (UERE), and the accuracy of the clock offset. The results show that the ISL measurement noise for the GEO satellites is 3 cm, and the multiday consistency accuracy of the ISL time delay is better than 0.07 ns. Compared to the satellite-to-ground link (SGL)-based orbit determination method, the root mean square (RMS) three-dimensional (3D) position error of the overlapping orbit differences (OODs) is improved from 1.11 to 0.22 m with the combined SGL- and ISL-based method. Simultaneously, the UERE improves from 0.57 to 0.19 m, and the accuracy of the satellite clock offset improves from 1.09 to 0.61 ns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Beijing Satellite Navigation Center provides all the test data used in this contribution, including the ISL measurements and the L-band measurements. All data will be made available for scientific research purposes by requesting it from the Beijing Satellite Navigation Center.

References

  • Chen JP, Hu XG, Tang CP (2016) Orbit determination and time synchronization for new-generation BeiDou satellite: preliminary results. Scientia Sinica (Physica, Mechanica & Astronomica) 46(1):119502

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen JP et al (2020) SIS accuracy and service performance of the BDS-3 basic system. Sci China Phys Mech Astron 63(6):269511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez FA (2011) Inter-satellite ranging and inter-satellite communication links for enhancing GNSS satellite broadcast navigation data. Adv Space Res 47(5):786–801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Zhou JH, Guo R (2014) High-precision orbit prediction and error control techniques for COMPASS navigation satellite. Chin Sci Bull 59(23):2841–2849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Guo R, Hu XG, Tang CP, Wu S, Chang ZQ, Liu S (2018a) Construction of a BDSPHERE solar radiation pressure model for BeiDou GEOs at vernal and autumn equinox periods. Adv Space Res 62(7):1717–1727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XX, Zhu YT, Zheng K, Yuan YQ, Liu GG, Xiong Y (2020) Precise orbit and clock products of Galileo, BDS and QZSS from MGEX since 2018: comparison and PPP validation. Remote Sens 12(9):23–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Zhou JH, Hu XG, Liu L, Guo R, Zhou SS (2015) Orbit determination and prediction for BeiDou GEOs at the time of the spring/autumn equinox. Scientia Sinica Physica, Mechanica & Astronomica 58:089501

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Hu XG, Guo R, Tang CP, Zhou SS, Liu S, Chen JB (2018b) Orbit and positioning accuracy for the new generation BeiDou satellites during the earth eclipsing period. J Navig 71(5):1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lv Y, Geng T, Zhao QL, Xie X, Zhou R (2020) Initial assessment of BDS-3 preliminary system signal-in-space range error. GPS Solut 24(1):16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maine KP, Anderson P, Langer J (2003) Crosslinks for the next-generation GPS. IEEE Aerosp Conf 4:1589–1596

    Google Scholar 

  • Montenbruck O et al (2017) The multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) of the international GNSS service (IGS) - achievements, prospects and challenges. Adv Space Res 59(7):1671–1697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan JY et al (2017) System error calibration for time division multiple access inter-satellite payload of new-generation BeiDou satellites (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull 62:2671–2679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan JY et al (2018) Time synchronization of new-generation BDS satellites using inter-satellite link measurements. Adv Space Res 61:145–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Revnivykh SG (2012) GLONASS status and modernization. In Proceedings of ION GNSS 2012, Nashville, TN, 3931–3949

  • Tang CP et al (2016) Improvement of orbit determination accuracy for BeiDou navigation satellite system with two-way satellite time frequency transfer. Adv Space Res 58:1390–1400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang CP et al (2018) Initial results of centralized autonomous orbit determination of the new-generation BDS satellites with inter-satellite link measurements. J Geod 92:1155–1169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang DN, Yang J, Li G (2017) Globalization Highlight: orbit determination using BeiDou inter-satellite ranging measurements. GPS Solut 21(3):1395–1404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang YF, Yang YX, Hu XG, Tang CP, Zhao LQ, Xu JY (2019a) Comparison and analysis of two orbit determination methods for BDS-3 satellites. Acta Geodaetica Et Cartographica Sinica 48(7):831–839

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang YX, Gao WG, Guo S, Mao Y, Yang YF (2019b) Introduction to BeiDou-3 navigation satellite system. Navigation 66(1):7–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang YF, Yang YX, Hu XG, Chen JP, Guo R, Tang CP, Zhou SS, Zhao LQ, Xu JY (2020) Inter-satellite link enhanced orbit determination for Beidou-3. J Navig 73(1):115–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou SS, Hu XG, WU B. (2011) Orbit determination and time synchronization for a GEO/IGSO satellite navigation constellation with regional tracking network. Sci China Phys Mech Astron 54(6):1089–1097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou SS et al (2016) Applications of two-way satellite time and frequency transfer in the BeiDou navigation satellite system. Sci China Phys Mech Astron 59(10):109511

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.: 41874043, 41704037, 42004028, and 61603397). We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which make our revised manuscript more accurate and clear.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Satellite Navigation Center, Beijing, 100094, China

    Xiaojie Li, Rui Guo, Shuai Liu, Jie Xin, Jinglei Guo, Yijun Tian & Yufei Yang

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory for Space Positioning and Navigation, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Xiaojie Li, Xiaogong Hu, Chengpan Tang, Jianhua Yang & Xinglong Zhao

  3. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Xiaojie Li, Xiaogong Hu, Chengpan Tang, Jianhua Yang & Xinglong Zhao

Authors
  1. Xiaojie Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaogong Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rui Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chengpan Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shuai Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jie Xin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jinglei Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yijun Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yufei Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jianhua Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Xinglong Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaogong Hu or Rui Guo.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, X., Hu, X., Guo, R. et al. Precise orbit determination for BDS-3 GEO satellites enhanced by intersatellite links. GPS Solut 27, 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-022-01330-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-022-01330-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation