Citation
Abstract
Daily estimates of the Earth’s pole position have been obtained with the Global Positioning System (GPS) by using measurements obtained during the GIG’91 experiment from January 22 to February 13, 1991. Data from a globally distributed network consisting of 21 Rogue GPS receivers were chosen for the analysis. A comparison of the GPS polar motion series with nine 24-hour very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) estimates yielded agreement in the day-to-day pole position of about 1.5 cm for both X and Y polar motion. A similar comparison of GPS and satellite laser ranging (SLR) data showed agreement to about 1.0 cm. These preliminary results indicate that polar motion can be determined by GPS independent of, and at a level comparable to, that which can be obtained from either VLBI or SLR. Furthermore, GPS can provide these data with a daily frequency that neither alternative technique can readily achieve. Thus, GPS promises to be a powerful tool for determining high-frequency platform parameter variations, essential for the ultraprecise spacecraft-tracking requirements of coming years.
Details
- Volume
- 42-108
- Published
- February 15, 1992
- Pages
- 1–9
- File Size
- 404.3 KB