Solar Radiation Pressure Models for BeiDou-3 I2-S Satellite: Comparison and Augmentation

Abstract

Abstract:As one of the most essential modeling aspects for precise orbit determination, solar radiation pressure (SRP) is the largest non-gravitational force acting on a navigation satellite. This study focuses on SRP modeling of the BeiDou-3 experimental satellite I2-S (PRN C32), for which an obvious modeling deficiency that is related to SRP was formerly identified. The satellite laser ranging (SLR) validation demonstrated that the orbit of BeiDou-3 I2-S determined with empirical 5-parameter Extended CODE (Center for Orbit Determination in Europe) Orbit Model (ECOM1) has the sun elongation angle (ε angle) dependent systematic error, as well as a bias of approximately −16.9 cm. Similar performance has been identified for European Galileo and Japanese QZSS Michibiki satellite as well, and can be reduced with the extended ECOM model (ECOM2), or by using the a priori SRP model to augment ECOM1. In this study, the performances of the widely used SRP models for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellites, i.e., ECOM1, ECOM2, and adjustable box-wing model have been compared and analyzed for BeiDou-3 I2-S satellite. In addition, the a priori SRP models are derived based on analytical cuboid box model and empirically spectra analysis, respectively. Use of the a priori model combined with ECOM1 was finally demonstrated to reduce the ε-angle-dependent systematic error, and thus improved the radial orbit accuracy by nearly 35 per cent when compared to the solution with standalone ECOM1, as revealed by the one way SLR residuals.

The contribution of intersatellite links to BDS ‐3 orbit determination: Model refinement and comparisons

“…Zhao et al also presented detailed comparisons between BDS‐2 and BDS‐3e satellites and concluded that a new smoothed yaw attitude mode was adopted by the CAST payload instead of the orbit‐normal mode and that the midnight and noon yaw maneuvers occur when the beta angle (elevation of the Sun above the orbital plane) is approximately between −3° and 3°. Recently, this yaw model for CAST‐manufactured BDS‐3 satellites has been published in Wang et al In addition, the onboard clock of the BDS‐3e satellites also showed improved performance compared with the BDS‐2 clocks. Li et al concluded that there is no obvious inter‐system bias between BDS‐3e and BDS‐2 in the common B1I and B3I signals.…”

“…Li et al concluded that there is no obvious inter‐system bias between BDS‐3e and BDS‐2 in the common B1I and B3I signals. Other dynamic orbit modeling refinements of the solar radiation pressure (SRP) model for BeiDou I2‐S can be found in Wang et al Regarding the aspect of ISL, Yang et al presented timely analysis of the precise orbit determination (POD) results when ISL observations are introduced. The residuals showed a magnitude of 8 cm for the ISL observations and demonstrated an average improvement of 50% when ISLs were included compared with the ground station–only observations (ie, the L‐band measurements).…”

Demonstrating developments in high-fidelity analytical radiation force modelling methods for spacecraft with a new model for GPS IIR/IIR-M

“…The modelling approach, as presented in Ziebart et al (2005), was adopted into the operational standards for precise orbit determination of the Jason-1 altimetry satellite (Cerri et al 2010;Zelensky et al 2010). Recently, other research groups have explored a broadly similar approach for modelling SRP on Beidou satellites (Tan et al 2016;Wang et al 2018), on the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite (Gini 2014) and on QZS-1 (Darugna et al 2018).…”