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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

An optimal GPS data processing technique for precise positioning

A mathematical formula to optimally combine dual-frequency GPS pseudorange and carrier phase (integrated Doppler) data streams into a single data stream is derived in closed form. The data combination reduces the data volume and computing time in the filtering process for parameter estimation by a factor of 4 while preserving the full data strength for precise positioning. The resulting single data stream is that of carrier phase measurements with both data noise and bias uncertainty strictly defined. With this mathematical formula the single stream of optimally combined GPS measurements can be efficiently formed by simple numerical calculations. Carrier phase ambiguity resolution, when feasible, is strengthened due to the preserved full data strength with the optimally combined data and the resulting longer wavelength for the ambiguity to be resolved.

Wu, Sien-Chong↗
NASA NTRS1994

Optimal Preprocessing Of GPS Data

Improved technique for preprocessing data from Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver reduces processing time and number of data to be stored. Technique optimal in sense it maintains strength of data. Also sometimes increases ability to resolve ambiguities in numbers of cycles of received GPS carrier signals.

Wu, Sien-Chong↗
NASA NTRS1994

Processing In A GPS Receiver To Reduce Multipath Errors

Four techniques of ancillary real-time digital processing of signals in Global Positioning System, GPS, receiver introduced reducing effects of multipath propagation of signals on position estimates produced by receiver. Multipath range errors halved. Applied in addition to other signal-processing techniques and to other techniques designing as receiving antenna to make it insensitive to reflections of GPS signals from nearby objects.

Meehan, Thomas K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Toward 10(exp 9) GPS geodesy: Vector baselines, Earth rotation and reference frames

The University of Texas Center for Space Research research efforts under NASA Grant No. NAG-1936 from 1 Jan. 1992 - 31 Dec. 1992 were in the following areas: GPS orbit accuracy assessments and efforts to improve the accuracy; analysis of global GPS data collected during the first three months of the IGS campaign, and analysis of regional data. A brief summary of each of the above activities is presented in the following.

Schutz, Bob E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The time keeping system for GPS block IIR

The precision time keeping system (TKS) in the Global Positioning System (GPS), Block IIR satellites is designed to operate under severe natural and man made environmental conditions. The Block IIR TKS provides precise, autonomous time keeping for periods of up to seven months, without the intervention of the GPS Control Segment. The TKS is implemented using both linear and non-linear controls. The resulting TKS architecture uses a hybrid analog/digital phase locked loop (PLL). The paper provides details of the design and analysis of the TKS. The simulation techniques and the test bed activities used in performing the TKS design trade-offs are described. The effects of non-linear controls are analyzed using a TKS computer simulation of the PLL. The results from a hardware test bed are provided that verify desired TKS operation. The design criteria for the TKS computer simulation and the hardware test bed are indicated. The concepts for verification and testing of the TKS computer simulation and hardware test bed are presented.

Rawicz, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A precise GPS-based time and frequency system

An approach to implementing a compact, highly reliable and precise Master Time and Frequency subsystem usable in a variety of applications is described. These applications include, among others, Satellite Ground Terminals, Range Timing Stations, Communications Terminals, and Power Station Timing subsystems. All time and frequency output signals are locked to Universal Time via the GPS Satellite system. The system provides for continued output of precise signals in the event of GPS signal interruption from antenna or lead-in breakage or other causes. Cost/performance tradeoffs affecting system accuracy over the short, medium, and long term are discussed. A unique approach to redundant system design provides an architecture with the reliability advantage of triple-redundant majority voting and the cost advantages of dual-redundant elements. The system can be configured to output a variety of precise time and frequency signals and the design can be tailored to output as few, or as many, types and quantities of signals as are required by the application.

Mcnabb, Jack↗
NASA NTRS1993

CAFS: A Cesium Atomic Frequency Standard for GPS block IIR

Kernco, Inc. was selected to design the Cesium Atomic Frequency Standards (CAFS) for the GPS Block IIR NAVSTAR satellites. These spacecraft are scheduled to be launched in the mid-1990's to replenish and upgrade the existing constellation of Global Positioning System satellites. The Block IIR CAFS output frequency is 13.4003378 MHz, the 686th submultiple of the cesium atomic resonance frequency. Using an integer submultiple simplifies the design of the atomic frequency standard's rf multiplier circuits, eliminating the secondary frequency synthesizer needed in previous designs. The GPS Block IIR CAFS design, particularly the improvements made on our earlier Block II design is described. Test results are included.

Wisnia, Jeffry A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Error analysis of real time and post processed or bit determination of GFO using GPS tracking

The goal of the Navy's GEOSAT Follow-On (GFO) mission is to map the topography of the world's oceans in both real time (operational) and post processed modes. Currently, the best candidate for supplying the required orbit accuracy is the Global Positioning System (GPS). The purpose of this fellowship was to determine the expected orbit accuracy for GFO in both the real time and post-processed modes when using GPS tracking. This report presents the work completed through the ending date of the fellowship.

Schreiner, William S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Improved thermal force modeling for GPS satellites

Geophysical applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) require the capability to estimate and propagate satellite orbits with high precision. An accurate model of all the forces acting on a satellite is an essential part of achieving high orbit accuracy. Methods of analyzing the perturbation due to thermal radiation and determining its effects on the long-term orbital behavior of GPS satellites are presented. The thermal imbalance force, a nongravitational orbit perturbation previously considered negligible, is the focus of this article. The earth's shadowing of a satellite in orbit causes periodic changes in the satellite's thermal environment. Simulations show that neglecting thermal imbalance in the satellite force model gives orbit error larger than ten meters over several days for eclipsing satellites. This orbit mismodeling can limit accuracy in orbit determination and in estimation of baselines used for geophysical applications.

Vigue, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Differential GPS for air transport: Status

The presentation presents background on what the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is, desired target dates for initial GNSS capabilities for aircraft operations, and a description of differential GPS (Global Positioning System). The presentation also presents an overview of joint flight tests conducted by LaRC and Honeywell on an integrated differential GPS/inertial reference unit (IRU) navigation system. The overview describes the system tested and the results of the flight tests. The last item presented is an overview of a current grant with Ohio University from LaRC which has the goal of developing a precision DGPS navigation system based on interferometry techniques. The fundamentals of GPS interferometry are presented and its application to determine attitude and heading and precision positioning are shown. The presentation concludes with the current status of the grant.

Hueschen, Richard M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Improved modeling of GPS selective availability

Selective Availability (SA) represents the dominant error source for stand-alone users of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Even for DGPS, SA mandates the update rate required for a desired level of accuracy in realtime applications. As was witnessed in the recent literature, the ability to model this error source is crucial to the proper evaluation of GPS-based systems. A variety of SA models were proposed to date; however, each has its own shortcomings. Most of these models were based on limited data sets or data which were corrupted by additional error sources. A comprehensive treatment of the problem is presented. The phenomenon of SA is discussed and a technique is presented whereby both clock and orbit components of SA are identifiable. Extensive SA data sets collected from Block 2 satellites are presented. System Identification theory then is used to derive a robust model of SA from the data. This theory also allows for the statistical analysis of SA. The stationarity of SA over time and across different satellites is analyzed and its impact on the modeling problem is discussed.

Braasch, Michael S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Tropospheric corrections to GPS measurements using locally measured meteorological parameters compared with general tropospheric corrections

At the Technical University Graz (TUG), Austria, the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been used for time transfer purposes since the early 80's and from that time on local meteorological parameters have been recorded together with each measurement (satellite track). The paper compares the tropospheric corrections (delays) obtained from models usually employed in GPS receivers and those using locally measured meteorological parameters.

Kirchner, D.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A comparison of GPS broadcast and DMA precise ephemerides

We compare the broadcast ephemerides from Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to the postprocessed ephemerides from the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA). We find significant energy in the spectrum of the residuals at 1 cycle/day and higher multiples. We estimate the time variance of the residuals and show that the short term residuals, from 15 min, exhibit power law processes with greater low frequency perturbations than white phase modulation. We discuss the significance of these results for the performance of the GPS Kalman filter which estimates the broadcast orbits.

Weiss, Marc A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Application of a Monte Carlo accuracy assessment tool to TDRS and GPS

In support of a NASA study on the application of radio interferometry to satellite orbit determination, MITRE developed a simulation tool for assessing interferometric tracking accuracy. Initially, the tool was applied to the problem of determining optimal interferometric station siting for orbit determination of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). Subsequently, the Orbit Determination Accuracy Estimator (ODAE) was expanded to model the general batch maximum likelihood orbit determination algorithms of the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS) with measurement types including not only group and phase delay from radio interferometry, but also range, range rate, angular measurements, and satellite-to-satellite measurements. The user of ODAE specifies the statistical properties of error sources, including inherent observable imprecision, atmospheric delays, station location uncertainty, and measurement biases. Upon Monte Carlo simulation of the orbit determination process, ODAE calculates the statistical properties of the error in the satellite state vector and any other parameters for which a solution was obtained in the orbit determination. This paper presents results from ODAE application to two different problems: (1)determination of optimal geometry for interferometirc tracking of TDRS, and (2) expected orbit determination accuracy for Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Conclusions about optimal ground station locations for TDRS orbit determination by radio interferometry are presented, and the feasibility of GPS-based tracking for IRIDIUM, a LEO mobile satellite communications (MOBILSATCOM) system, is demonstrated.

Pavloff, Michael S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A processing centre for the CNES CE-GPS experimentation

CNES is involved in a GPS (Global Positioning System) geostationary overlay experimentation. The purpose of this experimentation is to test various new techniques in order to select the optimal station synchronization method, as well as the geostationary spacecraft orbitography method. These new techniques are needed to develop the Ranging GPS Integrity Channel services. The CNES experimentation includes three transmitting/receiving ground stations (manufactured by IN-SNEC), one INMARSAT 2 C/L band transponder and a processing center named STE (Station de Traitements de l'Experimentation). Not all the techniques to be tested are implemented, but the experimental system has to include several functions; part of the future system simulation functions, such as a servo-loop function, and in particular a data collection function providing for rapid monitoring of system operation, analysis of existing ground station processes, and several weeks of data coverage for other scientific studies. This paper discusses system architecture and some criteria used in its design, as well as the monitoring function, the approach used to develop a low-cost and short-life processing center in collaboration with a CNES sub-contractor (ATTDATAID), and some results.

Suard, Norbert↗
NASA NTRS1995

Operational considerations of using GPS for spacecraft navigation

The Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has provided operational spacecraft orbit support for many years, currently generating orbit products for about 20 satellites. To date, operational orbit determination in the FDF has been performed on the ground using data from ground-based or space-based tracking systems. Current development of spaceborne Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers is projected to have a significant effect on the support needed for operational satellite navigation. This paper identifies the functions performed in spacecraft navigation and examines and quantifies how the functions and support levels will be affected as onboard GPS receivers are implemented on spacecraft. Cases are considered spacecraft using or not using NASA ground and space networks resources.

Hart, Roger C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and attitude determination: Applications and activities in the Flight Dynamics Division

The application of GPS to spacecraft attitude determination is a new and growing field. Although the theoretical literature is extensive, space flight testing is currently sparse and inadequate. As an operations organization, the Flight Dynamics Division (FDD) has the responsibility to investigate this new technology, and determine how best to implement the innovation to provide adequate support for future missions. This paper presents some of the current efforts within FDD with regard to GPS attitude determination. This effort specifically addresses institutional capabilities to accommodate a new type of sensor, critically evaluating the literature for recent advancements, and in examining some available -albeit crude- flight data.

Ketchum, Eleanor↗