Future radio occultation (RO) receivers are planned to utilize the newlyimplemented Global Positioning System (GPS) L5 band centered at 1176.45 MHz.Since there are currently no operational GPS L5 receivers used forspace-based RO applications, the interference environment is unclear.Distance measuring equipment (DME) and tactical air navigation (TACAN)stations share the same frequency band as GPS L5. The signals from thesestations have been identified as possible sources of interference for any GPSL5 receiver, including those used in RO applications. This study utilizesSystems Tools Kit (STK) simulations to gain insight into the power receivedby a RO satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) from a DME–TACAN transmission aswell as the amount of interfering stations. In order to confirm the validityof utilizing STK for communication purposes, a theoretical scenario wasrecreated as a simulation and the results were confirmed. Once the method wasvalidated, STK was used to output a received power level aboard a ROsatellite from a DME–TACAN station as well as a tool to detail the number ofinterfering DME–TACAN stations witnessed by a space-based RO receiver overtime. The results indicated a large number of DME–TACAN stations transmittingat similar orientations as a receiving RO satellite, thereby leading to thepossibility of signal degradation in an unclear interference environment.
展开▼
