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A new method for determination of satellite orbits by transfer

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Abstract

The original idea of a new method for determination of satellite orbits by transfer is from Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT). The original method is called “determination of satellite orbit by transfer”. The method is not only for determination of satellite orbit but also for the time transfer with high accuracy and precision. The advantage is that the accuracy and the precision for determination of satellite orbit are very high and the new method is favorable for various applications. The combination of various signals disseminated and received forms various modes of satellite orbit determinations. If receivers at stations receive the own station-disseminated signals via a satellite transponder, it forms an orbit determination mode called “receiving the own station-disseminated signals mode”. If receivers at all stations receive the signals disseminated from the master station via satellite transponders, it forms an orbit determination mode called “receiving the master station-disseminated signals mode”. If all of receivers at stations receive all stations-disseminated signals via satellite transponders, it forms an orbit determination mode called “receiving all stations-disseminated signals mode”. Also there are other combinations of signals for satellite orbit determination. For different orbit determination modes with different signal combinations, their rigorous formulae of processing are hereby presented in this paper. The accurate and the precise satellite orbit determination for both of the modes, “receiving the own station-disseminated signals mode” and “receiving the master station-disseminated signals mode” is attempted. It shows that the accuracy and precision for both of modes are nearly the same, the ranging accuracy is better than 1 cm, and the observation residuals of satellite orbit determination are better than 9 cm in the observation duration of 1 day.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, 710600, China

    ZhiGang Li, XuHai Yang & RongChuan Qiao

  2. National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    GuoXiang Ai & HuLi Si

  3. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200030, China

    ChuGang Feng

Authors
  1. ZhiGang Li
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  2. XuHai Yang
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  3. GuoXiang Ai
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  4. HuLi Si
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  5. RongChuan Qiao
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  6. ChuGang Feng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to ZhiGang Li.

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB815503100453001)

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Li, Z., Yang, X., Ai, G. et al. A new method for determination of satellite orbits by transfer. Sci. China Ser. G-Phys. Mech. Astron. 52, 384–392 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-009-0057-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-009-0057-6

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