Highly precise satellite orbits are a very important basis for altimetry, in which the height of the sea surface and its changes have been monitored for more than 30 years using radar or laser observations from a large number of satellites. Inaccuracies in the satellite orbits can influence the measurement results and interpretations based on them, for example, regarding regional and global sea level rise. Therefore, the quality of the orbit calculations is essential for reliable insights into the state of our planet.

Section 1.2 calculates these satellite orbits, including those of Sentinel-1, -2, -3 and -6, using state-of-the-art software such as the EPOS-OCsoftware developed in the section, and delivers the results to the Spanish company GMV, which combines the data from various international partners to generate the most precise satellite orbit possible, with remaining uncertainties minimised as much as possible.

In this context, GFZ is also a member of the Copernicus POD (Precise Orbit Determination) Quality Working Group, a consortium of leading international expert groups in this field. Through collaboration in this network, the software EPOS-OC developed at GFZ is constantly reviewed and kept up to date with the latest scientific findings.

Project partners:

• AIUB (Astronomical Institute - University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland)
• CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites, Toulouse, France)
• CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales, Toulouse, France)
• DLR (Technical University of Munich, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany)
• ESOC (European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany)
• EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Darmstadt, Germany)
• GMV (GMV, Madrid, Spain)
• NASA/JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA)
• TU Delft (Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands)
• TU München (Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany)
• NASA/GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA)
• TU Graz (Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria)

Project duration:

• See phase 1 and 2 individual projects above
• 2020-2027

Funding:

• ESA