Observing a GPS Satellite Maneuver with MW and SLR Astronomical Institute, University of Bern Claudia Urschl
Jan 09, 2016
Observing a GPS Satellite Maneuver with MW and SLR
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern
Claudia Urschl
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 2
Experiment history
• Maneuver announced for May 17, 2005 between 20:30 - 08:10 UT
• Request for tracking via e-mail to SLR stations (ilrssta)
• Maneuver took place at 22:28 UT• Bad weather conditions• Only Herstmonceux (7840) tracked
GPS35 during the maneuver• Fullrate data (148) 22:11 – 23:08 UT
Maneuver for GPS satellite GPS35
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 3
First orbit solution
Maneuver at 22:28:17
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 4
First orbit solution (zoom)
Maneuver
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 5
Ground track GPS35
ManeuverCHUR
KOUR
KIRU
GOPE
7840
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 6
First orbit solution
t = 234 s
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 7
Improved orbit
Maneuver
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 8
Maneuver evaluation
Orbit determination: a = 0.88 mm/s2
t = 234 s
Assumption: m = 975 kg
vGAS = 200 m/s
v = a • t
F = m • a
MGAS = v / vGAS • m
v = 0.2 m/s
F = 0.86 N
MGAS = 1 kg
Astronomical Institute, University of Bern 9
GPS Satellite Maneuvers since 2004
May 17