Abstract
A reliable and accurate gradiometer calibration is essential for the scientific return of the gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer (GOCE) mission. This paper describes a new method for external calibration of the GOCE gradiometer accelerations. A global gravity field model in combination with star sensor quaternions is used to compute reference differential accelerations, which may be used to estimate various combinations of gradiometer scale factors, internal gradiometer misalignments and misalignments between star sensor and gradiometer. In many aspects, the new method is complementary to the GOCE in-flight calibration. In contrast to the in-flight calibration, which requires a satellite-shaking phase, the new method uses data from the nominal measurement phases. The results of a simulation study show that gradiometer scale factors can be estimated on a weekly basis with accuracies better than 2 × 10−3 for the ultrasensitive and 10−2 for the less sensitive axes, which is compatible with the requirements of the gravity gradient error. Based on a 58-day data set, scale factors are found that can reduce the errors of the in-flight-calibrated measurements. The elements of the complete inverse calibration matrix, representing both the internal gradiometer misalignments and scale factors, can be estimated with accuracies in general better than 10−3.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bouman J, Koop R, Tscherning C, Visser P (2004) Calibration of GOCE SGG data using high-low SST, terrestrial gravity data and global gravity field models. J Geod 78: 124–137. doi:10.1007/s00190-004-0382-5
Catastini G, Cesare S, De Sanctis S, Dumontel M, Parisch M, Sechi G (2007) Predictions of the GOCE in-flight performances with the end-to-end system simulator. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international GOCE user workshop. ESA-ESRIN, Frascati. 6-8 November 2006. ESA SP, vol 627, pp 9–16
Cesare S (2008) Performance requirements and budgets for the gradiometric mission. Issue 4 GO-TN-AI-0027, Alenia Spazio, Turin
Cesare S, Catastini G (2008) Gradiometer on-orbit calibration procedure analysis. Issue 4 GO-TN-AI-0069, Alenia Spazio, Turin
Charmonman S (1967) An efficient algorithm for inverting a block-symmetric matrix. Math Comput 21(100): 715–717. doi:10.2307/2005018
Drinkwater M, Haagmans R, Muzi D, Popescu A, Floberghagen R, Kern M, Fehringer M (2007) The GOCE gravity mission : ESA’s first core Earth explorer. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international GOCE user workshop. ESA-ESRIN, Frascati. 6-8 November 2006, ESA SP, vol 627, pp 1–8
ESA (1999) Gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation mission. Reports for mission selection, the four candidate earth explorer core missions. SP-1233(1), European Space Agency, Noordwijk
Foerste C, Schmidt R, Stubenvoll R, Flechtner F, Meyer U, Koenig R, Neumayer H, Biancale R, Lemoine J-M, Bruinsma S, Loyer S, Barthelmes F, Esselborn S (2007) The GeoForschungs Zentrum Potsdam/Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale satellite-only and combined gravity field models: EIGEN-GL04S1 and EIGENGL04C. J Geod. doi:10.1007/s00190-007-0183-8
Lemoine FG, Kenyon SC, Factor JK, Trimmer RG, Pavlis NK, Chin DS, Cox CM, Klosko SM, Lutchke SB, Torrence MH,Wang YM, Williamson RG, Pavlis EC, Rapp RH, Olsen TR (1998) The development of the joint NASA GSFC and the National imagery and mapping agency (NIMA) Geopotential Model EGM96. NASA/TP-1998-206861
Visser PNAM (2007a) GOCE gradiometer validation by GPS. Adv Space Res 39: 1630–1637. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2006.09.014
Visser PNAM (2007b) Exploring the possibilities for star-tracker assisted calibration of the six individual GOCE accelerometers. J Geod. doi:10.1007/s00190-007-0205-6
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rispens, S., Bouman, J. Calibrating the GOCE accelerations with star sensor data and a global gravity field model. J Geod 83, 737–749 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-008-0290-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-008-0290-1