High-precision Autonomous Satellite Navigation as Part of a Distributed Constellation

Abstract

One of the key tasks in the formation of the small satellite constellation is to ensure its stable configuration in time. The specifics of this problem lies in the fact that this must be solved in real time with sufficiently high accuracy with significant restrictions on the power consumption of onboard satellite systems, its weight-size characteristics, the cost of development and operation. Solving the navigation problem with the onboard small satellite equipment involves the individual and group calculation of satellite coordinates and motion parameters using code and phase measurements, integer carrier-phase ambiguity resolution and mutual inter-satellite navigation measurements. The article discusses the theoretical principles for the implementation of these procedures in relation to the minimal satellite constellation: leader and the slave satellites. The navigation signal processing is implemented in the form of a simulation model of the small satellite navigation support used to evaluate the accuracy characteristics of the proposed procedure.