Application Characteristics Analysis of the T20 Solar Radiation Pressure Model in Orbit Determination for COMPASS GEO Satellites

Abstract

For sub-meter precise orbit determination of GEO satellites, solar radiation pressure (SRP) perturbation is the major error and also the main factor that restrains the accuracy of orbit prediction. Compared with MEO satellites, GEO satellites are easier to be influenced by SRP perturbation due to their high altitude orbit feature and the magnitude achieves 10–7 (relative to the central gravity). Solar pressure modeling relates to multiple factors, including the satellite platform, attitude controlling, etc., thus it is difficult to accurately model it. It is also the biggest error term that affects the accuracy of precise orbit determination (POD) for medium and high Earth orbit satellites. This paper completes the construction of the time series of the 3.5-year model SRP using the recent 3.5-year real data from COMPASS using the post-processing method. Meanwhile, this paper discovers a secular variation trend and a half-year period of the Cr coefficient. The parameters variation features relating to the seasonal solar activities are investigated. Estimated SPR parameters and periods of solar activities are analyzed, as well as the relationship among the POD accuracy. Therefore, some fruitful conclusions have been got, which helps to establish and refine the COMPASS GEO SRP model.