Spacecraft position estimating system and method
US8749431B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S5/02216
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.