ITC/USA 2007 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Third Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 22-25, 2007 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Wallops Flight Facility is NASA’s principal site for management and implementation of suborbital research programs. Recently, WFF resumed its successful satellite-launching history without sacrificing its culture of being low-cost and responsive. Part of what made this possible is the GPS radiosonde. During recent successful Minotaur I launches, this tiny instrument provided upper-air observations that were used in six categories of analysis necessary for such launches: toxics, blast, winds aloft, debris, weather and forecasting, and post-flight. In addition, the GPS radiosonde has reduced costs associated with Wind Weighting at Wallops, and is used in numerous range research projects.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 27-30, 1997 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / There is an interest in using Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to find: Time Space Position Information (TSPI), miss distances between a missile and target, and using the data real time as an independent tracking aid for range safety. Ashtech, Inc. has several standalone GPS receivers they believe can work at high g levels. This paper investigates how the Ashtech GPS receivers work under high g loading in one axis. The telemetry system used to collect data from the receivers and the reconstruction of the data will also be discussed. The test was done at SNORT (Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track) located at NAWS, China Lake, CA. The g level obtained was about +23 g’s with a deceleration of -15 g’s. The velocity reached was about Mach 2.0. A summary of the errors is included.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 23-26, 2000 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This paper will investigate the areas that must be addressed to implement a truly integrated Range instrumentation system on a GPS-based Range, using a patented L-Band commanding scheme. Hardware issues will be highlighted as well the issues to be addressed in changing from an audio tone-frequency modulated command system to a digital system incorporating encryption and spread spectrum. Some thoughts addressing costs and schedule to incorporate this approach into the architecture of Joint Advanced Missile Instrumentation (JAMI) program are also presented, as well as a discussion of the benefits to be accrued over the existing system.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 28-31, 1985 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / Demonstration results are presented for a high dynamic GPS receiver. The receiver tested is a breadboard unit capable of tracking one simulated satellite signal in pseudorange and range rate. The receiver makes approximate maximum likelihood estimates of pseudorange and range rate each 20 ms, and tracks these observables using a third order filter with a time constant of 0.14 s. Carrier phase is not tracked, which eliminates the typical failure mode of loss of carrier lock associated with PLLs at high dynamics. The receiver tracks with pseudorange lag errors of under 0.06 m when subjected to simulated 50 g turns with 40 g/s peak jerk. Pseudorange errors due to receiver noise alone are approximately 0.6 m rms at a carrier power to noise spectral density ratio of 34 dB-Hz. The tracking threshold SNR is approximately 28 dB-Hz, which provides 12 dB margin relative to the 40 dB-Hz that occurs with minimum specified satellite signal strength, 3.5 dB system noise figure, and 0 dBi antenna gain.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 1984 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / A breadboard high dynamic GPS receiver capable of pseudorange tracking with accelerations of 50 g or higher without inertial aiding is presented. The receiver uses cross correlation followed by fast Fourier transformation to approximate maximum likelihood estimation of pseudorange and range rate, with no phase or delay locked loops. The breadboard system consists of a one channel receiver and a high dynamics signal simulator. A planned demonstration of the receiver is described and anticipated results are presented showing pseudorange lag errors of under 10 m with acceleration of 50 g.

Forecasting rainfall is of great importance for the farmers in West Africa. However, due too lack of reliable weather observations, rainfall forecats in West Africa are difficult and primarly based on satellite observations. This thesis will study a satellite dataset that could possible work as a substitute for weather balloon soundings and thus improving the rainfall forecasts. A satellite dataset with atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, obtained from GPS-RO, was compared with radiosondes available from Abidjan, Bamako and Niamey, to study the potential of improving rainfall forecasts over West Africa. Two case studies with simulated weather forecasts with and without assimilated GPS-RO data was also compared. Data assimilation is used to produce an estimate of the atmospheric properties. Temperature profiles obtained from GPS-RO data showed insignificant bias compared to the radiosondes. Probable humidity sensor failure resulted in problem analysing the dew point temperature. From simulations, it was shown that GPS-RO assimilation may have a large impact on the forecasts and could potentially be a substitute for radiosondes in West Africa. / Regnprognoser är något som är viktigt för jordbrukare. I Västafrika saknas pålitliga väderobservationer och regnprognoser är istället baserade på satellit observationer. Denna uppsats riktar sig på att studera ett satellit dataset som har möjligheten att vara ett substitut för väderballongssonderingar och på så vis vara ett steg mot förbättrade regnprognoser. Ett dataset med atmosfäriska temperatur- och fuktighetsprofiler, erhållen från GPS-RO, jämfördes med radiosonderingar från Abidjan, Bamako och Niamey, för att studera dess potential för förbättrade regnprognoser över Västafrika. Två fallstudier med simulerade väderprognoser med och utan assimilerad GPS-RO data jämfördes också. Data assimilering används för att uppskatta de atmosfäriska egenskaperna. Temperaturprofilerna erhållna från GPS-RO data visade ingen signifikant skillnad jämfört med radiosonderingarna. Troligt sensorfel i fuktighetsgivarna från radiosonderingarna ledde till problem med analysen av daggpunktstemperaturen. Simuleringar visade att assimilation med GPS-RO kan ha stor påverkan på prognoserna och har potential att bli ett substitut för radiosonderingar i Västafrika.

Baigiamajame darbe aprašoma GNPS sistema bei GNPS referencinių stočių ir jų tinklų funkcijos ir poreikis šiuolaikiniuose inžineriniuose darbuose. Supažindinama su virtualiųjų referencinių stočių sistemomis ir naujuoju „Master Auxiliary Concept“ (MAC) darbo metodais. Išnagrinėjama „Spider“ referencinių stočių valdymo programinė įranga. Analizuojami matavimo rezultatai VRS bei MAC tinkluose. Darbas baigiamas išvadomis ir pasiūlymais. Darbą sudaro keturios dalys: įvadas, trys skyriai, išvados ir literatūros sąrašas. Atskirai pridedami darbo priedai. / GPS system, GPS reference stations and networks of stations and their demand in nowadays engineering jobs are generally explained in thesis. Virtual reference station (VRS) and the newest master auxiliary concept (MAC) methods are introduced. Spider software for reference station networks control are analysed in details. The results using VRS and MAC technologies are analysed and compared. Conclusions and suggestions are at presented. The structure of the work consists of 4 parts: introduction, three parts, conclusions and references. Appendixes included.

Iran couvre une grande superficie en longitude entre les méridiens 44°E et 64°E et en latitude entre les parallèles 25°N et 40°N. la cartographie de champ de pesanteur sur l'Iran est de première importance pour des considérations d'ordre géodésique, géophysique et géodynamique. Dans cette thèse, les mesures de pesanteur sont utilisées pour déterminer le géoïde gravimétrique sur l'Iran. Ce géoïde est couplé à la mesure de hauteur GPS et d'altitude (nivellement) pour réaliser une surface verticale opérationnelle sur le territoire Iranien. La contribution aux principaux travaux géodésiques et gravimétriques réalisés ces dernières années porte sur l'établissement: 1) du réseau national de gravimétrique absolu de l'Iran (NAGNI09), 2) de la ligne nationale d'étalonnage de gravimétrique de l'Iran (NGCLI10), 3) du réseau multi- observations géodésiques et gravimétriques de l'Iran (MPGGNI10). Le réseau gravimétrique absolu, comporte 24 stations où la mesure de la pesanteur a été réalisée à l'aide de gravimètres FG5, avec une précision meilleure que 5 Gal. La répétition des observations sur deux sites entre 2000 et 2007 met en évidence des variations inter-annuelles de la pesanteur en relation avec l'évolution du contenu en eau du sous-sol et (ou) la déformation tectonique. Le réseau a servi de point d'appui pour la réalisation du réseau géodésique et gravimétrique MPGGNI10 de maille 55 km sur lequel a été mesuré la pesanteur à l'aide des gravimètres relatifs CG5 et CG-3/M, la hauteur de GPS et l'altitude avec une précision respectivement de 0.010 mGal, 0.03 m et . La technique de retrait- restauration couplée à la méthode de condensation de Helmert a permis de calculer un nouveau modèle de géoïde gravimétrique, IRGeoid10, avec une précision absolue et relatif respectivement de l'ordre de 0.26 m et 2.8 ppm. Ce géoïde est ajusté aux points GPS nivelés pour définir un nouveau référentiel des altitudes sur l'Iran. / Iran covers a large area limited in longitude by the meridians 44°E and 64°E and in latitude by the parallels 25°N and 40°N. Mapping a new gravity field over Iran is the first important data for geodetic, geophysical and geodynamical considerations. In this thesis, the gravity measurements are used to determine the gravimetric geoid over Iran. This geoid is coupled with the GPS height and altitude (levelling) to realize an operational vertical surface at the territory of Iran. The contribution of the principal geodetic and gravimetric works realized in recent years are the establishment of: 1) the national absolute gravity network of Iran (NAGNI09), 2) the national gravity calibration line of Iran (NGCLI10) and 3) the multi-observations geodetic and gravimetric network of Iran (MPGGNI10). The absolute gravity network consists in 24 stations where the gravity measurement has been realized with the help of gravimeters FG5, with a precision better than 5 Gal. The repetition of the observations at two stations between 2000 and 2007 makes obvious the inter-annual variations of gravity in relation of the amount of underground water changes and (or) tectonic deformation. The absolute gravity network has served the base stations for the realization of the MPGGNI10 geodetic and gravimetric network with a mesh of 55 km, at which the gravity is measured with the help of relative gravimeters CG-5 and CG-3/M, the GPS height and the altitude with a precision of 0.010 mGal, 0.03 m, and respectively. The remove-restore technique coupled with the Helmert's condensation method is chousen to compute a new gravimetric geoid model, IRGeoid10, with a absolute and relative precision of the order of 0.26 m and 2.8 ppm respectively. The gravimetric geoid is adjusted at the GPS/levelling points to define new vertical reference surface over Iran

When L-band radio waves of space-based radio navigation systems such as Global Positioning System (GPS) travel through the atmosphere and ionosphere, their ray paths are bent and their travel time are increased as a result of refractive-index gradients. As the ionosphere is a dispersive medium the two GPS frequencies are subject to different delays in time and modifications in amplitude, phase and polarisation which is an effect of free electrons. By using these two radio frequencies one can derive information about the Total Electron Content integrated along the ray path. After calibration, these data are included into the tomographic reconstruction. The tomographic methode presented in this paper works on algebraic iterative methodes like SART and MART. Calculations are based on International GPS Service (IGS) ground received data. Space-based GPS is provided by LEO (Low Earth Orbiter) satellites like CHAMP. By means of incorporating such occultation data into tomography an improvement of reconstruction of the vertical structure of the electron density is expected. First confirming interpretations of a selected occulation event are presented in this paper. It is shown, that space-based GPS data can improve tomographic results mainly in middle to lower altitudes of the ionosphere. / Wenn sich Radiowellen eines Navigationssystemes, wie das des Global Positioning Systems (GPS), in der Atmosphäre und Ionosphäre ausbreiten, erfahren sie eine Beugung des Strahlweges und eine Erhöhung der Laufzeit aufgrund der Gradienten des atmosphärischen Refraktionsindexes. Da die Ionosphäre ein dispersives Medium darstellt, unterliegen beide GPS-Frequenzen dort unterschiedlichen Störungen in Laufzeit und Veränderungen in Amplitude, Phase und Polarisation, was auf die Effekt der freien Elektronen zurückzuführen ist. Unter der Verwendung der beiden Radiofrequenzen kann man Informationen über die Anzahl der über den Strahlweg integrierten Elektronen erhalten. Nach der Kalibrierung dieser Daten, können sie zur tomographischen Rekonstruktion verwendet werden. Die hier vorgestellte Tomographie verwendet algebraisch iterative Methoden, wie SART und MART. Die tomographischen Berechnungen bauen auf bodengestützte GPS-Daten des International GPS Services (IGS) und satellitengestützten GPS-Daten von LEO (Low earth orbiter) Satelliten wie CHAMP auf. Durch die Intergration von Okkultationsdaten in die Tomographie wird eine Verbesserung der Rekonstruktion der vertikalen Struktur der Elektronendichte erwartet. Erste bestätigende Interpretationen eines ausgewählten Okkultationsereignisses werden in diesem Artikel vorgeführt. Es wird gezeigt, dass satellitengestützte GPS-Daten die tomographischen Ergebnisse vorallem in der mittleren und unteren Ionosphäre verbessern können.

Cette thèse s'intéresse aux liens entre l'évolution du contenu en eau de l'atmosphère et la formation des précipitations. L'objectif général des travaux qui y sont présentés est d'améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes de formation des précipitations en se basant sur des mesures de vapeur d’eau effectuées principalement par GPS. Une étude statistique originale effectuée à partir de 5 années de mesures (GPS, pluviomètre et capteurs météorologiques au sol, situés sur le campus des Cézeaux, Clermont-Ferrand) a permis de mettre en évidence qu'en moyenne l'augmentation du contenu intégré en vapeur d'eau (IWV) est un précurseur de la formation des pluies, et que les variations de l'humidité dans la colonne atmosphérique toute entière sont pour l'essentiel découplées de celles observées à la surface. En effet, contrairement à l'humidité au sol, l'IWV atteint son maximum en moyenne 20 minutes avant le pic de précipitations. Cela semble indiquer que lorsque les précipitations commencent la condensation devient prépondérante à l'échelle de la colonne atmosphérique toute entière tandis qu'au niveau du sol il y a une forte évaporation. L'étude détaillée des précipitations convectives qui se sont produites sous le vent des Vosges le 18 Juillet 2007 (période d'observation intensive 9a de la campagne Convective and Orographically- induced Precipitation Study - COPS), a permis de mettre en évidence l'apport essentiel du GPS pour l'étude des précipitations convectives dans une région de moyenne montagne. En effet, grâce à une utilisation combinée de mesures radar à haute résolution, d'analyses de surface et de stations GPS (permettant d’observer des structures du champ de vapeur d’eau à petite échelle et haute résolution temporelle, à 2D et 3D), nous avons montré que l'accumulation d'humidité précédait de plusieurs heures l'initiation de la convection et que le déclenchement convectif est favorisé par la convergence du flux d'humidité. Cette dernière est associée à une convergence du vent dans les basses couches, ce qui entraîne un important transport vertical de la vapeur d'eau, observé grâce à la tomographie GPS. La direction du vent en amont du relief s'est révélée contrôler pour beaucoup la localisation des zones de convergence. Le forçage local dû à l'orographie à petite échelle (< 5km) a également été mis en évidence, en complétant les observations par des résultats de simulations numériques à haute résolution. / This thesis focuses on the links between the evolution of atmospheric water vapour content and precipitation formation. The general goal of the works presented is to improve the understanding of the precipitation formation mechanisms using water vapour measurements, primarily made by GPS. An original statistical study based on 5 years of data (from GPS, rain gauge, and other meteorological probes collocated on a platform in Clermont-Ferrand, France) shows that the increase of integrated water vapour amount (IWV) is, on average, a precursor for rain formation. We also show that the IWV evolution is primarily disconnected from the variations in water vapour mixing ratio measured at the surface. Indeed, unlike moisture at the surface, the IWV reaches its maximum on average 20 minutes before the precipitation peak. This could indicate that the condensation dominates in the whole column, while at the surface there is a strong evaporation. The detailed study of convective precipitations which occurred on 18th of July 2007 (Intensive Operation Period 9a of the Convective and Orographically- induced Precipitation Study COPS) on the lee side of the Vosges Mountains shows the significant contribution of GPS measurement for the study of convective precipitations in mountainous areas. Indeed, Thanks to a synergic use of radars, surface meteorological analysis and GPS receivers (which allow the observation of small scale water vapour field features, with a high temporal resolution), we show that the moisture accumulation occurs several hours before convective initiation and we also show that the triggering of the convection is favoured by moisture flux convergence (MFC). This MFC is associated with surface wind convergence leading to a substantial vertical transport of water vapour, which is observed by the GPS tomography. The wind direction on the windward side of the mountains appears to control the location of this convergence zone. The role of local forcing due to small scale orography (< 5km) is also shown, complementing the observations by the results from high resolution numerical model simulations.