• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.499-510
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• 2009

In this paper, relative orbit of Low Earth Orbit satellites is determined using only GPS measurements and the effects of Equatorial Spread-F (ESF), that is one of biggest ionospheric irregularities, are investigated. First, relative orbit determiation process is constructed based on doubly differenced GPS observations. In order to see orbit determination performance, relative orbit of two GRACE satellites is estimated for one month in 2004 when no ESF is observed. The root mean square of the achieved baselines compared with that from K-Band Ranger sensor is about 2~3 mm and average of 95% of ambiguities are resolved. Based on this performance, the relative orbit is estimated for two weeks of two difference years, 2003 when there are lots of ESF occurred, and 2004 when only few ESF occurred. For 2003, the averaged baseline error over two weeks is about 15 mm. That is about 4 times larger than the case of 2004 (3.6 mm). Ionospheric status achieved from K-Band Ranging sensor also shows that more Equatorial Spread-F occurred at 2003 than 2004. Investigation on raw observations and screening process revealed that the ionospheric irregualarities caused by Equatorial Spread-F gave significant effects on GPS signal like signal loss or enhancement ionospheric error, From this study, relative orbit determination using GPS observations should consider the effect of Equatorial Spread-F and adjust orbit determination strategy, especially at the time of solar maximum.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.38.1-38.1
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• 2009

In this paper we present the first results of summer-time F region irregularities during low solar condition observed using the Gadanki MST radar. Echoes were observed on all 20 nights of radar observations and were mostly confined to the post-midnight hours. Echo morphology is very different from the equinoxial post-sunset plume-like features reported earlier from Gadanki. Echo SNRs are lower by 25 dB than their equinoxial post-sunset counterpart, and are quite comparable to the equinoxial irregularities in the post-midnight hours, which are essentially the decaying post-sunset irregularities. The Doppler velocities, which lie in the range of $\pm$ 100 m s-1, show upward/northward motion of the irregularities during the initial phase in contrast to the observed predominant downward/southward velocities associated with the decaying equinoxial post-midnight F region irregularities. Spectral widths of the summer echoes, which are well below 50 m s-1 and are very similar to those of the decaying equinoxial irregularities, represent the presence of weak plasma turbulence. Simultaneous observations made using a collocated ionosonde show no ionogram trace during 2200-0530 LT except for a few occasions. Weak frequency type spread F observed during midnight hours occurred without prior occurrence of range spread F. Concurrent ionosonde observations made from magnetic equatorial location Trivandrum also show very similar result and thus no height rise of the F layer during the midnight hours could be monitored. The preliminary analysis suggests that the post-midnight irregularities reported here are mostly freshly generated ones. The observations are discussed in the light of other observational results reported earlier and the current under standing on the post-midnight occurrence F region irregularities in summer.