GNSS-based baseline vector determination for widely separated cooperative satellites using L1-only receivers

DGNSS; Extended Kalman Filter; Relative navigation; Satellite formation; State estimation; Baseline vectors; Global Navigation Satellite Systems; Inter satellite distances; Ionospheric delays; Real-time estimation; Relative positions; Relative velocity; Satellites formation; Aerospace Engineering; Astronomy and Astrophysics; Geophysics; Atmospheric Science; Space and Planetary Science; Earth and Planetary Sciences (all); General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Abstract :

[en] Real time estimation of the relative position and velocity vectors between two satellites in a formation is an integral part of the formation control loop. Relative positioning based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has been a dominating technology for formation missions in LEO, where extremely precise estimates could be obtained for formations with small inter-satellite distances (1-10 km). Larger baselines between the satellites (>10 km) are more challenging as they pose the problem of huge differences in the ionospheric delays experienced by the signals received by each receiver. This problem could be mitigated by using precise ionospheric-free combinations that could only be obtained by dual-frequency receivers, which is not a cost-efficient option for the modern low-cost miniature missions. In this paper, the problem of GNSS-based relative navigation between two spacecraft with large inter-satellite distance which are equipped with single-frequency receivers is treated through adopting the space-proven Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Although using an EKF for relative navigation is a common practice, there are many variants of the filter settings, which vary in terms of the state and measurement vectors to be adopted as well as the techniques to be used to handle the ionospheric delay. In this research, optimal settings of the filter are sought for the problem of relative baseline vector estimation between two spacecraft that have large separation and which are equipped with with single-frequency GNSS receivers.

Research center :

Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) > ARG - Automation & Robotics
ULHPC - University of Luxembourg: High Performance Computing

Disciplines :

Aerospace & aeronautics engineering

Author, co-author :

MAHFOUZ, Ahmed ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > Automation

MENZIO, Davide ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust > Automation > Team Holger VOOS

Dalla Vedova, Florio; LuxSpace, Betzdorf, Luxembourg

VOOS, Holger ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > Automation

External co-authors :

Language :

English

Title :

GNSS-based baseline vector determination for widely separated cooperative satellites using L1-only receivers

Publication date :

10 July 2023

Journal title :

Advances in Space Research

ISSN :

0273-1177

eISSN :

1879-1948

Publisher :

Elsevier Ltd

Special issue title :

Recent Advances in Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Focus Area :

Computational Sciences

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0273117723004969?httpAccept=text/xml

FnR Project :

AuFoSat

Name of the research project :

Autonomous Constellation and Formation Control of Microsatellites

Funders :

Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg
Université du Luxembourg

Funding number :

BRIDGES/19/MS/14302465

Funding text :

This work is supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) – AuFoSat project, BRIDGES/19/MS/14302465.

Available on ORBilu :

since 14 November 2023

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