AAS 95-367

Statistical Performance of TOPEX/POSEIDON Prime Mission Ground and On-Board Ephemerides and Consequences for the Extended Mission

J. Kangas and A. H. Salama, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA

Abstract

TOPEX/POSEIDON is a joint American/French ocean topography experiment, currently in the last year of its nominal mission and soon to enter a three year extended mission. To meet science requirements, the satellite must point the altimeter accuracy of the Operational Orbit Ephemeris and its Fourier power series representation in the On-Board Computer. The consequences for the extended mission due to this performance will be also discussed.