Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.2.20030120140441.036a3458@sol.csr.utexas.edu> Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 22:30:44 -0600 To: igsleo@igscb.jpl.nasa.gov From: Bob E Schutz Subject: [IGSLEO-46] ICESat GPS Cc: schutz@csr.utexas.edu Sender: owner-igsleo Precedence: bulk ****************************************************************************** IGS LEO Mail 21 Jan 09:32:59 PST 2003 Message Number 46 ****************************************************************************** Author: Bob Schutz ICESat was launched on a Boeing Delta-II from Vandenberg on Monday 13 January 2003 00:45 UTC. The Delta placed ICESat very precisely into the planned orbit with 94 degree inclination. ICESat carries the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), two JPL BlackJack (BJ) GPS receivers and a laser reflector array. On Friday 17 January, BJ#1 (and its antenna) were powered on and the first GPS data were recorded about 15:30. BJ#1 has performed as expected, tracking up to 9 satellites during normal operations. ICESat commissioning is underway by Ball Aerospace with a series of orbital maneuvers to place the satellite into the desired calibration orbit, an 8-day repeat ground track. Initial operation of GLAS is planned for early February. Availability of GPS RINEX data will be announced via IGSLEO. ICESat has been assigned the IGS designation L11. Processing of 17 hours of phase data collected January 18 has produced POD results at CSR that are judged to have an approximate accuracy of 10-cm radial. Much more analysis and some improvement is expected to take place as more data is accumulated. Nevertheless, this early result is very promising. SLR tracking will begin after the final orbit has been attained, but these activities are being coordinated with ILRS. Bob Schutz schutz@csr.utexas.edu http://icesat.gsfc.nasa.gov http://www.csr.utexas.edu/glas/