Abstract's details
Copernicus POD Service: Status and improvements
CoAuthors
Event: 2023 Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting
Session: Precision Orbit Determination
Presentation type: Type Oral
Contribution: PDF file
Abstract:
The Copernicus Precise Orbit Determination (CPOD) Service delivers, as part of the Ground Segment of the Copernicus Sentinel-1, -2, -3, and -6 missions, orbital products and auxiliary data files for their use in the corresponding Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS) processing chains at ESA and EUMETSAT, and to external users through the newly available Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/).
In this contribution, focus is given to the altimeter satellites Sentinel-3A, -3B, and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich for which the CPOD Service is responsible for the generation of near real-time orbit products. For the Sentinel-3 satellites also short-time critical and non-time critical orbit products are delivered as backup of the CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) orbit products.
The POD performance of the CPOD products is state of the art, and the operational robustness of the Service is proven by its uninterrupted service since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014. In 2023, the CPOD System was replaced by a new POD software, FocusPOD, developed by GMV as an internal R&D activity. An equivalent POD accuracy was kept throughout the transition, while improving the timeliness of the products and the robustness of the service.
The CPOD Service is always looking for ways to improve the achievable POD performance. Among the latest operational enhancements, the use of the COST-G time-varying gravity field models or the application of the empirical yaw bias to Sentinel-6 POD processing can be highlighted. New improvements are currently under analysis, including better handling of Earth’s geocenter motion and refinement of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) processing, used as external validation of the orbits. These investigations are supported by the CPOD Quality Working Group (QWG), composed by leading experts on GNSS and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) POD, who provide external validation and their scientific expertise on the field.
An overview and status of the Copernicus POD Service will be presented in terms of organisation, design, operations and performance in particular related to Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 satellites. Results of the latest operational changes and analysis of the upcoming improvements will be shown.
In this contribution, focus is given to the altimeter satellites Sentinel-3A, -3B, and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich for which the CPOD Service is responsible for the generation of near real-time orbit products. For the Sentinel-3 satellites also short-time critical and non-time critical orbit products are delivered as backup of the CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) orbit products.
The POD performance of the CPOD products is state of the art, and the operational robustness of the Service is proven by its uninterrupted service since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014. In 2023, the CPOD System was replaced by a new POD software, FocusPOD, developed by GMV as an internal R&D activity. An equivalent POD accuracy was kept throughout the transition, while improving the timeliness of the products and the robustness of the service.
The CPOD Service is always looking for ways to improve the achievable POD performance. Among the latest operational enhancements, the use of the COST-G time-varying gravity field models or the application of the empirical yaw bias to Sentinel-6 POD processing can be highlighted. New improvements are currently under analysis, including better handling of Earth’s geocenter motion and refinement of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) processing, used as external validation of the orbits. These investigations are supported by the CPOD Quality Working Group (QWG), composed by leading experts on GNSS and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) POD, who provide external validation and their scientific expertise on the field.
An overview and status of the Copernicus POD Service will be presented in terms of organisation, design, operations and performance in particular related to Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 satellites. Results of the latest operational changes and analysis of the upcoming improvements will be shown.