The Copernicus POD Service

Abstract

The Copernicus Precise Orbit Determination (CPOD) Service is in charge of computing the precise orbits and auxiliary data files of the Copernicus Sentinel-1, −2, −3 and −6 missions, using the GPS&Galileo observations obtained on-board. The orbit products and auxiliary data files are provided to the corresponding Payload Data Ground Segments (PDGS) and Payload Data Acquisition and Processing (PDAP) components and to external users through the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE).The CPOD Service is supported by the CPOD Quality Working Group (QWG), a group of leading experts on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and POD, which provides independent orbit solutions and techniques to support the quality control (QC) and the validation of the operational products.The CPOD Service was initially developed in 2013, starting its operational phase in April 2014 after the successful launch of Sentinel-1A. The CPOD Service has accumulated almost 10 years of experience, including its initial development, operations, and periodic evolutions, to the point that currently it is a well-recognized POD Service.This paper shows in detail the architecture of the CPOD Service, its performance and its evolution over the years, and its future outlook.