DGFI-TUM - SLR Multi Satellite Analysis

SLR Multi Satellite Combination

Geodetic parameters such as Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) and coefficients of the Earth's gravity field are highly correlated with satellite orbit parameters. For a reliable estimation of these various parameter groups in one common adjustment, satellites with different orbit characteristics have to be combined. At DGFI-TUM, laser ranging observations (SLR) to up to 11 different satellites are combined in order to decrease correlations between the different parameters using the Combination and Solution library of the DOGS software.

The combination of laser observations to different satellites also allows to enlarge the parameter space (e.g., thermospheric parameter) or to significantly increase the sensitivity to the Earth gravity field. The SLR multi-satellite solution can be used as a case study for the consistent estimation of the Earth's geometry, rotation and gravity field in one common adjustment. Therefore, the multi-satellite solution allows a step forward towards one of the major goals of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS).

Satellite-wise improvement of the DGFI-TUM SLR multi-satellite solution for different parameters. The black line represents as a reference the standard 4-satellite solution comprising observations to LAGEOS-1/-2 and Etalon-1/-2. This 4-satellite solution is routinely used by the ILRS to generate its reference frame and Earth rotation parameter products.

Selected Publications

Ferrándiz J. M., Modiri S., Belda S., Barkin M., Bloßfeld M., Heinkelmann R., Schuh H.: Drift of the Earth’s Principal Axes of Inertia from GRACE and Satellite Laser Ranging Data. Remote Sensing, 12(2), 314, 10.3390/rs12020314, 2020

(Open Access)

Pearlman M. Arnold D. Davis M. Barlier F. Biancale R. Vasiliev V. Ciufolini I. Paolozzi A. Pavlis E.C. Sośnica K. Bloßfeld M.: Laser geodetic satellites: a high-accuracy scientific tool. Journal of Geodesy, 93(11), 2181-2194, 10.1007/s00190-019-01228-y, 2019

Bloßfeld M., Rudenko S., Kehm A., Panafidina N., Müller H., Angermann D., Hugentobler U., Seitz M.: Consistent estimation of geodetic parameters from SLR satellite constellation measurements. Journal of Geodesy, 92(9), 1003–1021, 10.1007/s00190-018-1166-7, 2018