AAS 95-369

Using a Single SLR Site to Validate GPS Receiver Navigation

R. S. Hujsak, Applied Technology Associates, Inc., Exton, PA, G. C. Gilbreath, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

Abstract

Single site Satellite Laser Ranging data collected on TOPEX is used to examine a potential application in calibration, validation, and verification of other tracking systems, especially autonomous GPS navigation systems. Tracking data from a single SLR site was processed with a sequential filter-smoother and the resultant ephemerides were compared to the Precise Orbit Ephemeris from NASA. Single site orbit determination errors were less than 10,25,20 cm rms radial, intrack, and crosstrack when restricted to the time that the laser is actively tracking, even when operating at one crew-shift per day. This capability would enable a single laser site to support multiple satellite programs as a high accuracy calibration facility.