Technique for the use of GPS for high orbiting satellites
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsPeter M. Brodie, Laurence J. Doyle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a navigation system and method for a high orbit spacecraft, which passively utilizes UHF signals carrying intersatellite ranging data transmitted by a constellation of satellites that travel in lower orbits around a celestial sphere. The navigation system enables the high orbit spacecraft to self locate its position relative to an earth centered coordinate frame and comprises a receiver for receiving the UHF signals carrying the intersatellite ranging data and a Kalman or optimum filter coupled to the receiver for processing the ranging data received by the receiver and generating and updating spacecraft position data.
Claims20
A navigation system for a high orbit spacecraft, which passively utilizes UHF signals carrying intersatellite ranging data transmitted by a constellation of satellites that travel in lower orbits around the earth, said navigation system enabling the high orbit spacecraft to self locate its position relative to an earth centered coordinate frame, said navigation system comprising:
- receiver means for receiving the UHF signals carrying the intersatellite ranging data;
- and
- optimum filter means coupled to said receiver means for processing said ranging data received by said receiver means and generating and updating spacecraft position data thereby enabling the high orbit spacecraft to self locate its position relative to the earth centered coordinate frame.
A method for enabling a high orbit spacecraft to self locate its position relative to an earth centered coordinate frame, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving UHF signals carrying intersatellite ranging data transmitted by a constellation of satellites that travel in orbits around the earth which are lower than the high orbit spacecraft;
- and
- processing said received ranging data to generate and update spacecraft position data thereby enabling the high orbit spacecraft to self locate its position relative to the earth centered coordinate frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.