A new method to estimate GPS satellite and receiver differential code biases using a network of LEO satellites

The differential code biases (DCBs) of the global positioning system (GPS) receiver onboard low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are commonly estimated by a local spherical symmetry assumption together with the known GPS satellite DCBs from ground-based observations. Nowadays, more and more LEO satellites are equipped with GPS receivers for precise orbit determination, which provides a unique chance to estimate both satellite and receiver DCBs without any ground data. A new method to estimate the GPS satellite and receiver DCBs using a network of LEO receivers is proposed. A multi-layer mapping function (MF) is used to combine multi-LEO satellite data at varying orbit heights. First, model simulations are conducted to compare the vertical total electron content (VTEC) derived from the multi-layer MF and the reference VTEC obtained from the empirical ionosphere model International Reference Ionosphere and Global Core Plasmasphere Model. Second, GPS data are collected from five LEO missions, including ten receivers used to estimate both the satellite and receiver DCBs simultaneously with the multi-layer MF. The results show that the GPS satellite DCB solutions obtained from space-based data are consistent with ground-based solutions provided by the Centre for Orbit Determination in Europe. The proposed normalization procedure combining topside observations from different LEO missions has the potential to improve the accuracies of satellite DCBs of Global Navigation Satellite Systems as well as the receiver DCBs onboard LEO satellites, although the number of LEO missions and spatial–temporal coverage of topside observations are limited.