Accuracy analysis of GPS broadcast ephemeris in the 2036th GPS week

Abstract

Satellite orbit error is one of main sources in Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver positioning error. Using broadcast ephemeris in navigation message, the receiver can calculate spatial position of GPS satellites, then combine pseudorange measurements and achieve positioning solution. In this work, taking broadcast ephemeris in the 2036th GPS week as an example, orbital position of the satellite with the pseudo-random-noise (PRN) code 4 is calculated. Furthermore, using GPS precision ephemeris as a reference, orbital error of the broadcast ephemeris for the PRN 4 satellite is investigated. The results show that the maximum difference of the satellite in three directions is 36 meters, 57 meters and 39 meters, respectively. The three-dimension distance deviating from precision ephemeris is at most 61 meters. The maximum deviation occurs only during certain time periods in the whole GPS week.