Applicable Tracking Data Arcs for NORAD TLE Orbit Determination of the KOMPSAT-1 Satellite Using GPS Navigation Solutions

Abstract

NORAD Two Line Element (TLE) is very useful to simplify the ground station antenna pointing and mission operations. When a satellite operations facility has the capability to determine NORAD type TLE which is independent of NORAD, it is important to analyze the applicable tracking data arcs for obtaining the best possible orbit. The applicable tracking data arcs for NORAD independent TLE orbit determination of the KOMPSAT-1 using GPS navigation solutions was analyzed for the best possible orbit determination and propagation results. Data spans of the GPS navi gation solutions from 1 day to 5 days were used for TLE orbit determination and the results were used as initial orbit for SGP4 orbit propagation. The operational orbit determination results using KOMPSAT-1 Mission Analysis and Planning System (MAPS) were used as references for the comparisons. The best-matched orbit determination was obtained when 3 days of GPS navigation solutions were used. The resulting 4 days of orbit propagation results were within 2 km of the KOMPSAT-1 MAPS results.

Keywords

• NORAD
• TLE
• orbit determination
• GPS
• navigation solution
• KOMPSAT