GPS Altimetry and Reflections Processing

Status: Completed project, June 2000 -- May 2001
Type: New Sensor Concepts

The satellites in the GPS constellation are constantly bombarding the earth with radio signals. These signals are detected by GPS receivers on Earth to be used for everything from navigation, to missile guidance, to plate tectonic studies. However, part of the signal is reflected from the earth's surface back into space. The reflected signal component is very weak. A spacecraft placed into low earth orbit could simultaneously measure direct and reflected GPS signals, and the data could be used to deduce information about the reflecting surface (i.e., the Earth's surface and oceans). The signal reflection footprint on the surface of the earth is defined by the intersection of equi-range and equi-Doppler contours in what is called the glistening zone, which is centered on the specular reflection point.. A delay-doppler mapping receiver (DDMR) would be used to take measurements across the range of delay and Doppler offsets. Measurements taken at a specific Doppler and delay offset would correspond to specific regions within the glistening zone.

Visit the project website for more details.

Personnel Greg Holt Glenn Lightsey Jacob Williams

Facility Satellite Design Lab W.R. Woolrich Laboratories 210 E. 24th Street. Room 407 Austin, TX, 78712

Documentation

• Test document - This is some essay of mine.

Related Publications

Conference Presentations
J. Williams, G. N. Holt, E. G. Lightsey. "SuRGE Instrumentation".  SuRGE Concept Study Review.  CU/LASP , March 16, 2001.
See full text.