Autonomous navigation of geosynchronous satellites using the Navstar Global Positioning System

Special problems arise in connection with the navigation of geosynchronous satellites using the Navstar/Global Positioning System (GPS). A user's set on a geosynchronous satellite, unlike the near earth user, can never perform the required measurements to four GPS satellites simultaneously. The present investigation is concerned with the consequences of this situation for the navigation of the geosynchronous satellites. It s found that despite the limited visibility of Navstar/GPS satellites to user satellites at geosynchroous altitude, GPS can provide autonomous navigation of geosynchronous satellites with an accuracy of the order of 100 m.