ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10979
Open Date: 16/09/2021 15:10 CEST
Closing Date: 12/11/2021 13:00 CEST

The state-of-the-art Precise Orbit Determination (POD) software packages are based on dynamic (reduced dynamic) concepts, meaning that the entire modelling of the satellite dynamics (forces and torques acting on the satellite) is taken into account. Kinematic PODis a concept, which uses only the observations for performing the POD, without taking into account any spacecraft dynamics. The kinematic POD can be very important in cases where the dynamic modelling error can become large (e.g. very low flying satellites where modelling of the atmosphere is difficult, or in case of a complex satellite geometry), or where on-board receiver GNSS data is available, but no or very limited information about specific satellite data needed for dynamic POD is available. Several developments areon-going, which are addressing a specific implementation of the kinematic POD called Precise Point Positioning (PPP). PPP needs correction data (e.g. as provided by the Galileo High Accuracy Service), the respective algorithms are based on dual frequency (Ionosphere Fee observations) and implemented directly in the GNSS receiver for real-time operation.The main and new aspect of this study is to develop several different kinematic POD algorithms with the prime focus on user satellites in LEO, based on the usage of multiple Galileo frequencies (min. 3 – not existing today) and also the new data provided by the Galileo High Accuracy Service on the E6 frequency in its final, full operational status. This means, that this study shall not be focused on real-time, on-board PPP (min 3 frequencies), but should also cover non-real time kinematic POD for on-ground and on-board usage. For this reason, this study shall investigate the achievable kinematic POD accuracy (expected accuracy 1-3cm, considering aspects of cycle ambiguity resolution, biases, weighting of observations, un-differenced or differenced of observations, linear combinations of observations etc.), robustness of the algorithms, complexity of implementation of the concepts for on-ground and on-board operations. The following tasks shall beconducted as a minimum – Review of state-of-the-art kinematic POD technology- Identification of different kinematic POD algorithms for on-ground and on-board including related drivers- Trade-off between the different kinematic POD algorithms and selection of most promising two (one for on-board and one for on-ground)- Develop software for demonstration of conceptual functionality and performance of selected kinematic POD concepts The output/deliverables of this study will be a set of Technical Notes and software, capable of demonstrating the principle functionality and performance of the respective Kinematic POD concept. Future activities will contain stepwise developments and demonstrations until operational readiness. 

Directorate: Directorate of Operations
Estabilishment: ESOC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Sabine Roettger
Initiating Service: OPS-GN
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 10-B-II-GNSS and Geodetic Data Processing
Products Keywords: 4-A-2-d-Operational Support (POD, GNSS, DDOR,…)