High Performance Orbit Determination and Time Synchronization for Lunar Radio Navigation Systems

• DOI: 10.33012/2023.19428
• Publication Date: 2023-10-06T12:16:22Z
• Authors: Luciano Iess; Mauro Di Benedetto; Giovanni Boscagli; Paolo Racioppa; Andrea Sesta; Fabrizio De Marchi; Paolo Cappuccio; Daniele Durante; Serena Molly; Michael K. Plumaris; Pasquale Tartaglia; Fabrizio Santi; Agnes Fienga GéoAzur; Nicola Linty; Krzysztof Sosnica; Jacopo Belfi; Pietro Giordano; Richard Swinden; Javier Ventura-Tr...
• Keywords: Ephemeris; Orbit (dynamics); Time transfer

This paper presents a concept for the orbit determination and time synchronization (ODTS) of lunar radio navigation system. The proposed approach utilizes small ground antennas that simultaneously track all satellites in constellation using K-band frequency links. work describes architecture performance system, highlighting implementation multiple spacecraft per aperture (MSPA) concept. configuration ensures sufficient data rates achieves high accuracy Doppler range observables, enabling precise determination. One notable outcome this is availability new observable quantity, differential phase two-way signals received by station from any pair satellites, also known as single-beam interferometry (SBI). examines achieved transfer accuracies with different onboard clocks evaluates standard asynchronous satellite (TWSTFT) method. Additionally, novel method proposed, leveraging code epoch timestamping information. Through analysis realistic test cases, study demonstrates consistently remain below 10 meters (root sum square). Furthermore, findings indicate ephemerides aging clock drifts align well message repeat approximately three hours (99% confidence level), while maintaining signal-in-space error (SISE) 25 meters.