Implementation and Test of a Space-borne GPS Receiver Payload of University Microsatellite

摘要

Nowadays, GPS receiver became one of the most important navigation means systems. GPS system was designed for near Earth navigation, nevertheless it's also widely used in high dynamic environments such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This paper is concerned with the performance test of self-developed space-borne GPS receiver as a payload for a micro satellite. A space-borne GPS receiver differs from a commercial receiver due to the high Doppler shifts and Doppler shift rates experienced in the high dynamics environment of LEO. Under the trend of low-cost satellite design, a self-developed space-borne GPS navigation system is preferable. At first, the signal characteristics such as visibility and Doppler shift with respect to the GPS satellites are investigated for the satellite orbit of altitude 550 km and 22.3 deg of inclination. Next, the prototype of space-borne GPS receiver is designed and tested by receiving GPS signal that generated by GPS simulator, GSS7700. Some consequences of the high dynamical environment are observed and appropriate countermeasures are presented. The design and development of the space-borne GPS receiver are illustrated, as well as its performance under a simulated high dynamical environment.