Simulating and analysing VGOS observations for Genesis orbits and EOP determination

The upcoming Genesis mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will allow for the combination of all 4 space geodetic techniques, being GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging), DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite), and VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry). This promises progress for an improved terrestrial reference frame (TRF) and the determination of inherent biases of each technique. From the VLBI and VGOS (VLBI Global Observing System) point of view, the advantage of adding VLBI observations of satellites into an observing session is that it allows the ability to also estimate the geocenter and the satellite’s orbit to centimetre precision, as shown in previous studies. There is still an opportunity to investigate the effect of the chosen satellite orbit itself and the parameterisation in the analysis stage, on the determined Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) and the potentially determined satellite orbit. In this work we show the simulation of VGOS observations of a Genesis-like satellite, including scheduling, observations simulation, and analysis. This research will address the impact on the determination of EOPs and the determined satellite orbit, by the chosen initial satellite orbit and the parametrisation in the analysis process. The results of this study will enable future VLBI schedule optimisation that include satellite observations, and serve as a reference for orbital elements selection for VLBI observed geodetic satellites.