ESA GNC Conference Papers Repository

This paper evaluates the on-orbit performance of the first civilian operational use of a Global Positioning System Receiver (GPSR) at a geostationary orbit (GEO). This GPSR is on-board the newly launched Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R). GOES-R is the first of four next generation GEO weather satellites for NOAA. Among the pioneering technologies required to support its improved spatial, spectral and temporal resolution is a GPSR. The GPSR System on GOES was a new design that was mission critical and therefore received appropriate scrutiny. As ground testing of a GPSR for GEO can only be done by simulations with a lot of assumptions for current GPS constellation, this paper reveals what performance can be achieved in actuality. Extremely accurate orbital position is achieved by GPS navigation at GEO. Performance results are shown demonstrating compliance with the 100 to 75 m orbit position accuracy requirements of GOES-R, including during station-keeping and momentum management maneuvers, contributing to no observational outages during maneuvers. This performance is achieved by a completely New System design consisting of a unique L1 GEO Antenna, LNA Assembly and the 12 channel GPSR capable of tracking the GPS side lobes. This paper presents the definitive answer that the GOES-R GPSR solution exceeds all performance requirements by tracking up to 12 satellites and achieving excellent C/N0. Additionally, these performance results show the practically of this approach. This paper makes it clear that all future GEO Satellites must consider the addition of a GPSR in their Spacecraft design, otherwise they are sacrificing spacecraft capabilities and accuracy along with incurring increased and continual demand on ground support.