Spacecraft position estimating system and method

摘要

A system for estimating a spacecraft (6) position is disclosed. It includes receiving stations (4) for receiving signals transmitted from the spacecraft (6) and a processing station (2) for receiving data from the receiving stations (4). Each receiving station (4) records, during a recording window (8), the signals transmitted from the spacecraft (6) and transmits, to the processing station (2), data representing the recorded signals during the recording window (8). The recording windows (8) associated with each of the receiving stations (4) are offset and/or of different size with respect to each other. The processing station (2) correlates the recorded signals to estimate the distance difference between the spacecraft (6) and each of a plurality of receiving stations and to estimate the spacecraft (6) position. A method, a receiving station (4), a processing station (2) and a computer program are also disclosed.

主权项

1. System for estimating a spacecraft position, including:
a plurality of receiving stations arranged to receive signals transmitted from the spacecraft; and a processing station arranged to receive data from the plurality of receiving stations; wherein
each of the receiving stations is arranged to record, during a time window, herewith referred to as recording window, the signals transmitted from the spacecraft and to transmit, to the processing station, data representing the recorded signals during the recording window;the recording windows associated with each of the receiving stations are arranged to be offset and/or to be of different size with respect to each other; andthe processing station is arranged to correlate the recorded signals to estimate, for each of at least one pair among the plurality of receiving stations, a distance difference between the spacecraft and each receiving station of the pair, and, based thereon, the spacecraft position.