A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination
Abstract The inter-satellite link (ISL) equipment of the third-generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) can enhance the accuracy of precise orbit determination (POD) for BDS-3 satellites. However, the hardware delays within ISL observations can impact the measurement accuracy of ISL obs...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| author | Zhouming Yang Yunbin Yuan Bingfeng Tan |
| author_facet | Zhouming Yang Yunbin Yuan Bingfeng Tan |
| author_sort | Zhouming Yang |
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| description | Abstract The inter-satellite link (ISL) equipment of the third-generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) can enhance the accuracy of precise orbit determination (POD) for BDS-3 satellites. However, the hardware delays within ISL observations can impact the measurement accuracy of ISL observations. This study evaluates the characteristics of hardware delays in ISL observations for BDS-3 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites and investigates their effects on POD. Analysis shows that most links exhibit slow variations in hardware delays, with standard deviations (STD) of 6.4 cm and 3.6 cm over 45 days for the C19-C25 and C20-C21 links, respectively. Conversely, some links like C30-C23 and C30-C33 show more pronounced variations, with STD values reaching 17.7 cm and 14.1 cm within three days. Links involving satellites C23 and C30 display higher variability and significant jumps in hardware delays compared with other links. The larger variations in hardware delays of these links can be absorbed by other parameters, thereby affecting the accuracy of parameter estimation. To mitigate their impact on POD, a segmented estimation strategy for hardware delays is proposed. This strategy divides a single link into multiple segments based on a set interval length and estimates the hardware delay parameters for each segment separately, thereby absorbing the variations in hardware delays or unmodeled errors. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated through ISL POD residual analysis, comparison with L-band orbit determination results, and validation using Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) residuals. The root mean square (RMS) of ISL observation residuals decreased by approximately 44.3%, from 6.1 cm to 3.4 cm. Comparisons with L-band orbits confirmed an approximate 28.2% reduction in the 3D RMS of orbit discrepancies, from 26.5 cm to 19.0 cm. Additionally, the RMS of the overall SLR residuals showed a slight decrease. Overall, the improved segmented estimation strategy effectively reduces the influence of hardware delay variations on BDS-3 orbit determination, notably enhancing the orbit determination accuracy of BDS-3 satellites, especially for C23 and C30, which experience larger hardware delay fluctuations. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a93dc64158e548dea72b16147fc08a382025-08-20T01:53:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-02800-7A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determinationZhouming Yang0Yunbin Yuan1Bingfeng Tan2State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth’s Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology (APM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth’s Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology (APM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth’s Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology (APM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)Abstract The inter-satellite link (ISL) equipment of the third-generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) can enhance the accuracy of precise orbit determination (POD) for BDS-3 satellites. However, the hardware delays within ISL observations can impact the measurement accuracy of ISL observations. This study evaluates the characteristics of hardware delays in ISL observations for BDS-3 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites and investigates their effects on POD. Analysis shows that most links exhibit slow variations in hardware delays, with standard deviations (STD) of 6.4 cm and 3.6 cm over 45 days for the C19-C25 and C20-C21 links, respectively. Conversely, some links like C30-C23 and C30-C33 show more pronounced variations, with STD values reaching 17.7 cm and 14.1 cm within three days. Links involving satellites C23 and C30 display higher variability and significant jumps in hardware delays compared with other links. The larger variations in hardware delays of these links can be absorbed by other parameters, thereby affecting the accuracy of parameter estimation. To mitigate their impact on POD, a segmented estimation strategy for hardware delays is proposed. This strategy divides a single link into multiple segments based on a set interval length and estimates the hardware delay parameters for each segment separately, thereby absorbing the variations in hardware delays or unmodeled errors. The effectiveness of this strategy is demonstrated through ISL POD residual analysis, comparison with L-band orbit determination results, and validation using Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) residuals. The root mean square (RMS) of ISL observation residuals decreased by approximately 44.3%, from 6.1 cm to 3.4 cm. Comparisons with L-band orbits confirmed an approximate 28.2% reduction in the 3D RMS of orbit discrepancies, from 26.5 cm to 19.0 cm. Additionally, the RMS of the overall SLR residuals showed a slight decrease. Overall, the improved segmented estimation strategy effectively reduces the influence of hardware delay variations on BDS-3 orbit determination, notably enhancing the orbit determination accuracy of BDS-3 satellites, especially for C23 and C30, which experience larger hardware delay fluctuations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02800-7BDS-3 navigation satellite systemInter-satellite linkPrecise orbit determinationHardware delaySegmented Estimation |
| spellingShingle | Zhouming Yang Yunbin Yuan Bingfeng Tan A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination Scientific Reports BDS-3 navigation satellite system Inter-satellite link Precise orbit determination Hardware delay Segmented Estimation |
| title | A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination |
| title_full | A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination |
| title_fullStr | A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination |
| title_full_unstemmed | A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination |
| title_short | A short-arc hardware delay estimation method for inter-satellite links to improve BDS-3 precise orbit determination |
| title_sort | short arc hardware delay estimation method for inter satellite links to improve bds 3 precise orbit determination |
| topic | BDS-3 navigation satellite system Inter-satellite link Precise orbit determination Hardware delay Segmented Estimation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02800-7 |
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