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Differential GPS: An Enabling Technology for Formation Flying Satellites

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Small Satellite Missions for Earth Observation

Abstract

The differential processing of carrier phase measurements from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is a well know technique for relative positioning in terrestrial and aeronautical applications. Over the past decade intensive research has been conducted to demonstrate its suitability for high-precision relative navigation of spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO). This chapter describes the fundamental concepts of differential GNSS and its application to spacecraft formation flying. A review of past achievements is given and the practical aspects of differential GPS are discussed for real-time and offline navigation in the upcoming PRISMA and TerraSAR-X missions.

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Acknowledgements

The TanDEM-X project is partly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology (Förderkennzeichen 50 EE 0601).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DLR, German Space Operations Center, D-82234, Munich, Germany

    Simone D’Amico & Oliver Montenbruck

Authors
  1. Simone D’Amico
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  2. Oliver Montenbruck
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simone D’Amico .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Deutsches Zentrum für, Rutherfordstr. 2, Berlin, 12489, Germany

    Rainer Sandau

  2. Inst. Raumfahrtsysteme, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany

    Hans-Peter Roeser

  3. Media Lario International S.A., Bosisio Parini, 23842, Italy

    Arnoldo Valenzuela

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© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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D’Amico, S., Montenbruck, O. (2010). Differential GPS: An Enabling Technology for Formation Flying Satellites. In: Sandau, R., Roeser, HP., Valenzuela, A. (eds) Small Satellite Missions for Earth Observation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03501-2_43

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