Copernicus POD Service: Status of Copernicus Sentinel satellite orbit determination
Abstract
The Copernicus POD (Precise Orbit Determination) Service delivers, as part of the Ground Segment of the Copernicus Sentinel-1, -2, and -3 missions, orbital products and auxiliary data files for their use in the corresponding Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS) processing chains. The processing setup of the Copernicus POD Service has been updated to state-of-the-art background models (geopotential, ocean tides and atmospheric gravity) and the use of single-receiver ambiguity fixing using CODE (Center for Orbit Determination in Europe) GPS orbit, clock and bias products in spring 2020. Further investigations on an update of the orbit parametrization led to an optimised setup. This optimised setup has been thoroughly tested. The precise orbital products from the three missions are validated based on orbit comparisons to independent orbit solutions provided by the members of the Copernicus POD Quality Working Group (QWG), and a combined orbital product. Orbit accuracy validation based on satellite laser tracking (SLR) measurements is only possible for Sentinel-3. The orbit comparisons are done based on orbit time series. Geographically related differences and Fourier analysis of orbit differences are also added to the validation scheme. The status of the performance of all orbital products of the Copernicus POD Service after the significant model update is presented as well as the impact of the orbit parametrization update. The orbit differences of all six satellites and from all POD QWG contributions are also analysed and checked for model- or satellite-specific systematics to improve the overall orbit quality and long-term stability.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2345F