transmission to the satellite. Just before satellite time-
of-rise, the injection stations antenna is pointed to
acquire, lock on, and track the satellite through the
pass. The receive equipment receives and locks on to
the satellite signals and the injection station transmits
the orbital data and appropriate commands to the
satellite. Transmission to the satellite is at a high bit
rate, so injection is completed in about 15 seconds.
The message transmitted by the satellite
immediately after an injection contains a mix of old
and new data. The injection station compares a
readback of the newly injected data with data the
satellite should be transmitting as a check for errors.
If no errors are detected, injection is complete, If one
or more errors are detected, injection is repeated at
two-minute
intervals (updating the variable
parameters as necessary) until satellite transmission is
verified as being correct.
DOPPLER PRINCIPLES
Look at figure 1-7. Stable oscillator frequencies
radiating from a satellite coming toward the receiver
are first received (T1) at a higher frequency than
transmitted, because of the velocity of the
approaching satellite. The satellites velocity produces
accordion-like compression effects that squeeze the
radio signals as the intervening distance shortens. As
the satellite nears its closest point of approach, these
compression effects lessen rapidly, until, at the
moment of closest approach (T2), the cycle count of
the received frequencies exactly matches those which
are generated. As the satellite passes beyond this
point and travels away from the receiver (T3),
expansion effects cause the received frequencies to
drop below the generated frequencies proportionally
to the widening distance and the speed of the receding
satellite.
FACTORS AFFECTING ACCURACY
Measurement of Doppler shift is complicated by
the fact that satellite transmissions must pass through
the earths upper atmosphere on their way from space
to the receiver. Electrically charged particals in the
ionospheric layer cause refraction of these
transmissions. To solve this problem, the satellites are
designed to broadcast on two frequencies (150 and
400 MHz). The receiver measures the difference in
refraction between the two signals and supplies this
measurement to the computer. The computer uses this
refraction measurement as part of its computation to
obtain accurate fixes. The most serious problem
affecting accuracy is the effect of uncertainty in the
vessels velocity on the determination of position.
Velocity computation problems are inherent in the
system. Position error resulting from an error in
velocity measurement is somewhat dependent on the
geometry of the satellite pass. You can expect about
a 0.2 mile error for every one-knot error in the
vessels velocity. Knowing this, you can see that
precision navigation of a moving vessel requires an
accurate measurement of the velocity of the moving
vessel, such as is provided by a good inertial
navigation system (See the section on Ships Inertial
Navigation System.). In general, intermittent
precision navigation fixes would not be of extreme
value for a moving vessel unless it had some means of
interpolating between these precision fixes. A good
inertial navigation system provides such a means, and
simultaneously provides
the accurate velocity
measurements required to permit position fixes with
the NNSS.
In summary, precision navigation for moving
vessels cant be provided by the Navy Navigation
Satellite System alone, but can be provided by the use
of this system in conjunction with a good inertial
system. Given the orbital parameters of a satellite, the
Doppler shift of the signal transmitted from that
satellite, and the velocity of the vessel, it is possible
to obtain a navigational fix if the satellite is within los
of the navigation set and has a maximum elevation at
the time of closest approach (TCA) of between 10
and 70 degrees. Satellite passes suitable for use in
obtaining a navigational fix will usually occur at no
more than 2-hour intervals (depending on user
latitude and configuration of the satellite cons-
tellation). It is a matter of your viewpoint whether you
consider the inertial system as a means of
interpolating between the satellite navigation fixes or
consider the satellite fixes as a means for correcting
the inevitable long term drills (see the paragraphs on
basic components of an inertial navigation system) of
even the best inertial navigation systems.
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