Analysis of orbit determination performance for SGDC-1 using multiple tracking stations.
NUNES M. 1, RIBEIRO R. 1
1 Telebras, Brasilia, Brazil
On May 4, 2017, Brazil launched SGDC-1, its first governmental geostationary communications satellite, aboard an Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana. SGDC-1 supports the National Broadband Plan (PNBL), expanding internet access in remote regions and ensuring secure defense communications. Positioned at 75° West with an 18-year operational life, it carries Ka-band transponders for civilian broadband (managed by Telebras) and X-band transponders for military use by the Ministry of Defense. As SGDC-1 plays a critical role in Brazil’s broadband and defense communications, making precise orbit determinations is essential for the success of its mission. Orbit determination is the process of estimating a satellite’s position and velocity by combining tracking measurements with mathematical models of orbital dynamics. SGDC-1 operation employs a classical batch least-squares estimator, which refines its state vector by processing batches of measurements in iterative cycles. To collect data about a satellite's position and velocity, different tracking systems may be used, as radar, laser tracking, or even the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Within radar tracking, two of the commonly used approaches for geostationary satellites are the single-station tracking method, which uses both ranging and pointing observations, and the dual-ranging method, which uses two separate sites to obtain range data. Although SGDC-1’s ground segment comprises five gateways (GWs) distributed across Brazilian territory, routine operations primarily use two stations equipped for both ranging and pointing, while the remaining three, that provide only pointing measurements, are typically not utilized. This work evaluates how integrating data from these three ground stations affects the accuracy of SGDC-1’s orbit determination, compared to the established dual-ranging approach. Preliminary results indicate that incorporating pointing measurements from additional stations improves orbit determination accuracy.