Multi-GNSS orbit determination using satellite laser ranging

GNSS Satellite Orbit Validation Using Satellite Laser Ranging

With a total of four new regional and global navigation satellite systems that have launched first satellites or even started an operational service, the GNSS landscape has experienced major changes in recent years. As part of the Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service (IGS), a global network of multi-GNSS monitoring stations has been established and various analysis cen...

Determination of the best-fitting reference orbit for a LEO satellite using the Lagrange coefficients

Linearization of the nonlinear equations and iterative solution is the most well-known scheme in many engineering problems. For geodetic applications of the LEO satellites, e.g. the Earth’s gravity field recovery, one needs to provide an initial guess of the satellite location or the so-called reference orbit. Numerical integration can be utilized for generating the reference orbit if a satelli...

Ranging performance of satellite laser altimeters

Topographic mapping of the earth, moon and planets can be accomplished with high resolution and accuracy using satellite laser altimeters. These systems employ nanosecond laser pulses and microradian beam divergences to achieve submeter vertical range resolution from orbital altitudes of several hundred kilometers. In this paper we develop detailed expressions for the range and pulse width meas...

Satellite Laser Ranging and General Relativity

Satellite Laser Ranging and General Relativity