A new combined processing for Genesis

Genesis is ESA's future mission that will contribute to a highly improved Earth reference frame with a target accuracy of 1 mm and a long-term stability of 0.1 mm/year, providing a coordinate system for the most demanding scientific applications on our planet.

The baseline for the Genesis satellite is to combine all four major space-geodetic techniques: Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Doppler Orbitography and Radio-positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). The synchronisation and cross-calibration of these instruments are key to determine the inherent biases of each technique, allowing for a coherent combination of the relevant observations resulting in an improved accuracy of the orbit determination.

In preparation for this mission, which is expected to be launched in 2028, the Navigation Support Office of the European Space Agency will be responsible for the Precise Orbit Determination (POD) of the GNSS satellites and for the Genesis satellite. Hence, the Office is already preparing the tools to be ready for the processing of all the observables coming from these four techniques in a combined and coherent manner.

Real data obtained from ESA’s missions, including the Copernicus Sentinel missions, will serve as the basis for testing, validating, and further developing and enhancing the capabilities of a multi-technique processing, including GNSS, SLR and DORIS. In parallel, the Office is preparing to process the first high precision VLBI observations from a satellite.

A detailed description of the POD methodology that the Navigation Support Office intends to apply for Genesis mission as well as the first results will be presented and discussed at the EGU General Assembly.