Assessment of Jason-3 and Sentinel-6 MF radiation pressure model

Since the launch of Seasat (1978), the first satellite to study ocean topography, our knowledge of the rise of 
mean sea level has evolved. Since then, 18 additional satellites were launched, with more and more satellite 
missions (up to 10 satellites are now simultaneously flying) dedicated to the measurement of the global and 
regional sea-surface height, carrying on board state of the art precision orbit determination tracking techniques 
and instruments. 

Jason-3 (2016) and Sentinel-6 MF (2020) are part and parcel of these ocean topography missions. The two 
reference satellites were operated in tandem (with Sentinel-6 MF flying 30 seconds behind its predecessor) 
between mid-December 2020 to April 2022 for calibration purposes. The main difference between these two 
satellites has to do with their respective platform design. Indeed, Sentinel-6 MF solar panels are fixed on the 
satellite and has an almost fixed attitude, unlike Jason-3 which has some yaw steering periods. 

In this study, we focus on the solar radiation pressure modeling errors of both Sentinel-6 MF and Jason-3 
during their tandem phase (4.5 beta cycles). The idea is to analyze the estimated empirical accelerations of 
these two satellites as a function of their beta angle. The Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) depends only on two 
parameters: the orbital angle with respect to the sub-solar point and the beta angle. We will then propose 
updates of the SRP models. The effect of the terrestrial radiative perturbations will also be assessed.