• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

The Chinese BeiDou Satellite Navigation System consists of three kinds of constellations: the geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), the inclined geosynchronous satellite orbit (IGSO), and the medium Earth orbit (MEO). The BeiDou has expanded its service coverage from regional to global. Recently, the BeiDou has been widely used in ionospheric total electron content (TEC) research. In this study, we analyzed the BeiDou signals for ionospheric TEC monitoring over Jeju Island in South Korea. The BeiDou GEO TEC showed a clear pattern of diurnal variations. In addition, we compared the TEC values from the BeiDou GEO, the BeiDou IGSO, GPS, and International GNSS Service (IGS) Global Ionosphere Maps (GIM). There was a difference of about 5 TEC units between the BeiDou GEO and the IGS GIM. This may be due to the altitude difference between the different navigation satellites.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2023

The ionosphere acts as the largest error source in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal transmission. Ionospheric total electron content (TEC) is also easily affected by changes in the space environment, such as solar activity and geomagnetic storms. In this study, we analyze changes in the regional ionosphere using the Qusai-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a regional satellite navigation system. Observations from 9 GNSS stations in South Korea are used for estimating the QZSS TEC. In addition, the performance of QZSS TEC is analyzed with observations from day of year (DOY) 199 to 206, 2023. To verify the performance of our results, we compare the estimated QZSS TEC and CODE Global Ionosphere Map (GIM) at the same location. Our results are in good agreement with the GIM product provided by the CODE over this period, with an averaged difference of approximately 0.1 TECU and a root mean square (RMS) value of 2.89 TECU.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.393-398
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• 2008

This paper suggests a GPS/INS navigation computer architecture that can be applied to small satellites. In order to implement a GPS/INS navigation system on a small satellite, the extreme environment in space such as radiation, micro-gravity, vacuum, etc. must be considered. In addition, a real-time processing ability is required for the GPS/INS navigation system since the formation flying of multiple small satellites is the ultimate goal. The developed navigation electronics utilizes a PowerPC-type MPC860T that has space environment heritage, and a pair of Atmega128s that has been implemented in KAUSAT-2 and has completed the space environment verification tests. The navigation algorithm is designed to work in VxWorks environment, ported in MPC860T.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2015

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is undergoing dramatic changes. Nowadays, much more satellites are transmitting navigation data at more frequencies. A multi-GNSS analysis is performed to improve the positioning accuracy by processing combined observations from different GNSS. The multi-GNSS technique can improve significantly the positioning accuracy. In this paper, we present a combined Global Positioning System (GPS), the GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the China Satellite Navigation System (BeiDou), and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) standard point positioning (SPP) method to exploit all currently available GNSS observations at Mokpo (MKPO) station in South Korea. We also investigate the multi-GNSS data recorded at MKPO reference station. The positioning accuracy is compared with several combinations of the satellite systems. Because of the different frequencies and signal structure of the different GNSS, intersystem biases (ISB) parameters for code observations have to be estimated together with receiver clocks in multi-GNSS SPP. We also present GPS/GLONASS and GPS/BeiDou ISB values estimated by the daily average.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.149-154
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• 2014

The BeiDou is a satellite-based positioning and navigation system, which is under construction by the China Satellite Navigation Office. Until the June of 2014, the constellation of BeiDou navigation satellite system consists of 14 satellites including five geostationary earth orbit (GEO), five inclined geosynchronous earth orbit (IGSO) and four medium earth orbit (MEO). In this paper, we present the positioning results using BeiDou B1 code measurements obtained from three GNSS reference stations (BHAO, SKMA, MKPO). Combined Beidou/GPS positioning results are also compared to BeiDou and GPS only. BeiDou-only positioning errors for the east-west and north-south direction had less than 2 meter with root mean square (RMS) value. However, the positioning error for the up-down direction had larger than 10 meter at a 95% confidence level. Our results also suggest that the position precision is improved by combined BeiDou/GPS compared to BeiDou-only.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2019

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning has been widely used in geodesy, surveying, and navigation fields. RTK can benefit enormously from the integration of multi-GNSS. In this study, we develop a GPS/BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) RTK integration algorithm for long baselines ranging from 128 km to 335 km in South Korea. The positioning performance with GPS/BDS RTK, GPS-only RTK, and BDS-only RTK is compared in terms of the positioning accuracy. An improvement of positioning accuracy over long baselines can be found with GPS/BDS RTK compared with that of GPS-only RTK and that of BDS-only RTK. The positioning accuracy of GPS/BDS RTK is better than 2 cm in the horizontal direction and better than 5 cm in the vertical direction. A lower Relative Dilution of Precision (RDOP) value with GPS/BDS integration can obtain a better positional precision for long baseline RTK positioning.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2015

Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) has been extensively used for geodetic applications. Since December 2012, BeiDou navigation satellite system has provided regional positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services over the Asia-Pacific region. Recently, many studies on BeiDou system have been conducted, particularly in the area of precise orbit determination and precise positioning. In this paper PPP method based on BeiDou observations are presented. GPS and BeiDou data obtained from Mokpo (MKPO) station are processed using the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) PPP software. The positions are derived from the GPS PPP, BeiDou B₁/B₂ PPP and BeiDou B₁/B₃ PPP, respectively. The position errors on BeiDou PPP show a mean bias < 2 cm in the east and north components and approximately 3 cm in the vertical component. It indicates that BeiDou PPP is ready for the precise positioning applications in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, BeiDou tropospheric zenith total delay (ZTD) is compared to GPS ZTD at MKPO station. The mean value of their difference is approximately 0.52 cm.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2016

This study developed an approach for improving Carrier-phase Differential Global Positioning System (CDGPS) based realtime satellite relative navigation by applying laser baseline measurement data. The robustness against the space operational environment was considered, and a Synthetic Wavelength Interferometer (SWI) algorithm based on a femtosecond laser measurement model was developed. The phase differences between two laser wavelengths were combined to measure precise distance. Generated laser data were used to improve estimation accuracy for the float ambiguity of CDGPS data. Relative navigation simulations in real-time were performed using the extended Kalman filter algorithm. The GPS and laser-combined relative navigation accuracy was compared with GPS-only relative navigation solutions to determine the impact of laser data on relative navigation. In numerical simulations, the success rate of integer ambiguity resolution increased when laser data was added to GPS data. The relative navigational errors also improved five-fold and two-fold, relative to the GPS-only error, for 250 m and 5 km initial relative distances, respectively. The methodology developed in this study is suitable for application to future satellite formation-flying missions.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.58-71
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• 2023

This paper describes a navigation system design for horizontal position estimation using inertial measurement sensors and celestial navigation. In space, stars are widely spread objects in the celestial sphere and have been used mainly to obtain attitude information through star observation. However, it is also possible to obtain information about the horizontal position with the altitude of the star. It is called celestial navigation which is the same principle that former navigators used to locate themselves while sailing on the sea. In particular, in deep space where GPS is not available, it is important to obtain information on the location by making use of stars that are relatively easy to observe. Therefore, we introduce a navigation system that can estimate horizontal position and design two types of systems, loosely coupled and tightly coupled depending on how the measurements are utilized. It is intended to help in the future design of navigation system using celestial navigation by simulation studies that not only verify whether the system correctly estimates horizontal position but also comparing the performance of loosely and tightly coupled methods.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.119-131
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• 2018

In spite of a short history of only 30 years in space development, Korea has achieved outstanding space development capabilities, and became the $11^{th}$ member of the "Space Club" in 2013 by launching its own satellites with its own launch vehicle from a local space center. With the successful development and operation of more than 10 earth-orbiting satellites since 1999, Korea is now rapidly expanding its own aspirations to outer space exploration. Unlike earth-orbiting missions, planetary missions are more demanding of well-rounded technological capabilities, specifically trajectory design, analysis, and navigation. Because of the importance of relevant technologies, the Korean astronautical society devoted significant efforts to secure these basic technologies from the early 2000s. This paper revisits the numerous efforts conducted to date, specifically regarding flight dynamics and navigation technology, to prepare for future upcoming planetary missions in Korea. However, sustained efforts are still required to realize such challenging planetary missions, and efforts to date will significantly advance the relevant Korean technological capabilities.