• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2015

In this study, we present the results of orbit determination (OD) using satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for the Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT)-2C by a short-arc analysis. For SLR data processing, the NASA/GSFC GEODYN II software with one year (2013/04 - 2014/04) of normal point observations is used. As there is only an extremely small quantity of SLR observations of STSAT-2C and they are sparsely distribution, the selection of the arc length and the estimation intervals for the atmospheric drag coefficients and the empirical acceleration parameters was made on an arc-to-arc basis. For orbit quality assessment, the post-fit residuals of each short-arc and orbit overlaps of arcs are investigated. The OD results show that the weighted root mean square post-fit residuals of short-arcs are less than 1 cm, and the average 1-day orbit overlaps are superior to 50/600/900 m for the radial/cross-track/along-track components. These results demonstrate that OD for STSAT-2C was successfully achieved with cm-level range precision. However its orbit quality did not reach the same level due to the availability of few and sparse measurement conditions. From a mission analysis viewpoint, obtaining the results of OD for STSAT-2C is significant for generating enhanced orbit predictions for more frequent tracking.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 1993

Satellite laser ranging observation of LAGEOS II has been performed using the SLR System at Sheshan Laser Ranging Station, Shanghai Observatory. And we obtained 1,838 observational points. The observed range data is corrected by means of system delay correction using ground target observation, atmospheric refraction delay correction, offset correction, general relativistic correction and tide correction including solid tide, polar tide and ocean tide. As a result, the determined range delay mean value is 19.12m and the mean internal accuracy by means of polynomial fitting and least square method is $\pm$7cm. Corrected observational points are 1,340 and noise ratio to total observational points is 27.1%.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1135-1142
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• 2007

STSAT-2 has an on-board satellite retroreflector array for precise orbit determination. Satellite retroreflector array reflects photon emitted from laser and uses to determine precisely the distance from ground station to satellite by the round-trip travel time of photon. The retroreflector array of protoflight model has been developed and verified through environmental tests. This paper describes the protoflight model of retroreflector array and reports environmental test results. The environmental tests of protoflight model retroreflector array were performed successfully without damage of corner cube prism occurred in engineering model development.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2013

In this study, we present results of precise orbital geodetic parameter estimation using satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations for the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) associate analysis center (AAC). Using normal point observations of LAGEOS-1, LAGEOS-2, ETALON-1, and ETALON-2 in SLR consolidated laser ranging data format, the NASA/GSFC GEODYN II and SOLVE software programs were utilized for precise orbit determination (POD) and finding solutions of a terrestrial reference frame (TRF) and Earth orientation parameters (EOPs). For POD, a weekly-based orbit determination strategy was employed to process SLR observations taken from 20 weeks in 2013. For solutions of TRF and EOPs, loosely constrained scheme was used to integrate POD results of four geodetic SLR satellites. The coordinates of 11 ILRS core sites were determined and daily polar motion and polar motion rates were estimated. The root mean square (RMS) value of post-fit residuals was used for orbit quality assessment, and both the stability of TRF and the precision of EOPs by external comparison were analyzed for verification of our solutions. Results of post-fit residuals show that the RMS of the orbits of LAGEOS-1 and LAGEOS-2 are 1.20 and 1.12 cm, and those of ETALON-1 and ETALON-2 are 1.02 and 1.11 cm, respectively. The stability analysis of TRF shows that the mean value of 3D stability of the coordinates of 11 ILRS core sites is 7.0 mm. An external comparison, with respect to International Earth rotation and Reference systems Service (IERS) 08 C04 results, shows that standard deviations of polar motion $X_P$ and $Y_P$ are 0.754 milliarcseconds (mas) and 0.576 mas, respectively. Our results of precise orbital and geodetic parameter estimation are reasonable and help advance research at ILRS AAC.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.56-56
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• 2009

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.32.1-32.1
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• 2009

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2009

In this study, the YLPODS (Yonsei Laser-ranging Precision Orbit Determination System) is developed for POD using SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) NP (Normal Point) observations. The performance of YLPODS is tested using SLR NP observations of TOPEX/POSEIDON and CHAMP satellite. JPL's POE (Precision Orbit Ephemeris) is assumed to be true orbit, the measurement residual RMS (Root Mean Square) and the orbit accuracy (radial, along-track, cross-track) are investigated. The validation of POD using GPS (Global Positioning System) raw data is achieved by YLPODS performance and highly accurate SLR NP observations. YGPODS (Yonsei GPS-based Precision Orbit Determination System) is used for generating GPS based precise orbits for TOPEX/POSEIDON. The initial orbit for YLPODS is derived from the YGPODS results. To validate the YGPODS results the range residual of the first adjustment of YLPODS is investigated. The YLPODS results using SLR NP observations of TOPEX/POSEIDON and CHAMP satellite show that the range residual is less than 10 cm and the orbit accuracy is about 1 m level. The validation results of the YGPODS orbits using SLR NP observations of the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite show that the range residual is less than 10 cm. This result predicts that the accuracy of this GPS based orbits is about 1m level and it is compared with JPL's POE. Thus this result presents that the YLPODS can be used for POD validation using SLR NP observations such as STSAT-2 and KOMPSAT-5.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2010

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) has developed a mobile satellite laser ranging (SLR) system called ARGO-M since 2008 for space geodesy research and precise orbit determination technologies using SLR with mm level accuracy. ARGO-M is capable of night tracking and daylight tracking for which requires spatial, spectral and time filters due to high background noises. In this study, characteristics and specifications of ARGO-M are discussed and its tracking capabilities of night and daylight tracking are analyzed for STSAT-2B and KOMPSAT-5 through link budget. Additionally false alarm and signal detection probabilities are also analyzed depending on spectral and time filters for daylight tracking for these satellites.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.26.2-26.2
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• 2008

YLPODS (Yonsei Laser-ranging Precise Orbit Determination System) is POD system using SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) data. YLPODS is developed for two main purposes. The first purpose is to verify the result of POD using GPS data. The second purpose is to perform POD using only SLR data. In this study, YLPODS performance test is presented for checking the reliability of POD using only SLR data. To perform POD, the information of CHAMP and TOPEX mission is applied and SLR NP (Normal Point) data is used. The test is performed by checking both range precision and 3D accuracy (radial, along, cross direction). To confirm of 3D accuracy, CHAMP GENESIS orbit and TOPEX JPL orbit of NASA are used.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.27.2-27.2
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• 2009

SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) 데이터의 높은 거리측정 정밀도는 위성 추적 시스템의 검증 및 보정, 위성의 정밀궤도결정, 지구와 관련된 물리 상수 및 모델 검증, 우주파편과 같은 우주물체의 추적 및 감시 등에 활용이 가능하다. 특히 위성의 정밀궤도결정에 SLR 데이터를 활용하는 것은 고정밀 지구관측 위성 및 독자적인 항법 시스템 운영에 필수적인 부분이다. SLR 시스템은 위성 관측 가능 시간 및 지역이 한정되어 있기 때문에 정밀궤도 결정에 활용하는 것이 쉽지 않다. 따라서 이 연구에서는 SLR 데이터를 사용하기 위한 효율적인 정밀궤도결정 전략에 대해서 알아보았다. 동역학 및 관측 모델, 지상국의 개수, 초기 궤도 오차, 필터링 방법, 고도각에 따른 관측 데이터 선택 등의 기준을 선정하고 각각의 경우에 대해 정밀궤도결정을 수행하고 결과를 분석하였다. 정밀궤도결정 테스트를 위해서는 YLPODS (Yonsei Laser-ranging Precision Orbit Determination System)과 SLR정규점 (Normal Point) 데이터를 사용하였다. 이를 통해서 SLR 데이터를 사용하기 위한 효율적인 정밀궤도결정 전략에 대해 고찰해보았다.