Title :
An Approach to Resolve Integer Ambiguity of GPS Carrier Phase Difference for Spacecraft Attitude Determination
Author :
Purivigraipong, S. ; Unwin, M.J. ; Hodgart, M.S. ; Kuntanapreeda, S.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron. Eng., Mahanakorn Univ. of Technol., Bangkok
Abstract :
This paper presents a new approach to resolve integer ambiguity and achieve instantaneous spacecraft attitude from phase information of global positioning system signals, without requiring independent attitude information from traditional attitude sensors. A newly approached algorithm based on Gram-Schmidt orthonormalisation is proposed for medium length baseline observations. Using an attitude algorithm from vector observations, an instantaneous estimated attitude is obtained from only four phase measurements collected from only two baseline observations. The implemented algorithms are tested with a flight data collected onboard a mini-satellite orbiting in low Earth orbit. The results showed that a coarse attitude solution is achieved from phase information of stand-alone global positioning system signals.
Keywords :
Global Positioning System; artificial satellites; attitude measurement; GPS carrier phase difference; Gram-Schmidt orthonormalisation; attitude information; flight data; global positioning system signal; integer ambiguity; low Earth orbit minisatellite; medium length baseline observation; phase information; phase measurement; spacecraft attitude determination; Antenna measurements; Computer errors; Extraterrestrial measurements; Global Positioning System; Magnetic sensors; Phase measurement; Position measurement; Space technology; Space vehicles; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
TENCON 2005 2005 IEEE Region 10
Conference_Location :
Melbourne, Qld.
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-9311-2
Electronic_ISBN :
0-7803-9312-0
DOI :
10.1109/TENCON.2005.301345