Design and Testing of NewSpace Galileo Receiver for LEO Precise Onboard Orbit Determination in the Horizon 2020 IOV/IOD Mission

This paper offers an in-depth analysis of the Galileo Space Receiver, designed for the Horizon 2020 In-Orbit Validation/In-Orbit Demonstration (IOV/IOD) Mission, also known as the GASPER project. A primary aim of GASPER is to evaluate the efficacy of the Galileo Space Service Volume in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and to showcase the real-time capability of Precise Onboard Orbit Determination (P2OD) using data from the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS). The project introduces a state-of-the-art, compact, high-performance spaceborne receiver that will be embarked on the IOV/IOD satellite to conduct a thorough in-orbit validation of Galileo's potential for space applications. Aligned with the visions of the Galileo Programme and the Horizon 2020 initiative, GASPER represents a significant step forward in anticipating the future technologies of NewSpace, incorporating numerous innovative features. The receiver's design merges sophisticated hardware with the latest complex devices, relying on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components that have been rigorously qualified for space missions. The System on Chip (SoC) solution encapsulates the flight software, meticulously tailored to meet the demands of mission-critical operations. Advanced signal processing techniques have been employed to facilitate the reception of triple frequency signals from both Galileo and GPS, as well as the demodulation of HAS data. The navigation solution integrates the latest P2OD methods, demonstrating its operational effectiveness despite limited computational resources. This work emphasizes the outcomes of a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing campaign conducted on the Flight Model unit. We established specialized test benches to verify performance that closely simulates expected in-flight operations. Our validation strategy for precise orbit determination greatly benefits from access of up-to-date Galileo HAS data collected during this operational phase through a caster specially implemented at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for Galileo HAS monitoring. Although the results presented are preliminary, they offer a substantial leap towards fulfilling the objectives of the GASPER project, with full realization expected during the in-orbit experiment phase.

MENZIONE Francesco;  PICCOLO Andrea;  PAONNI Matteo;  BOYERO Juan Pablo;  CASOTTO Stefano;  BARDELLA Massimo;  PRATA Ricardo;  BELMONTE-CALERO Francisco-Javier;  PEREZ Miguel;  SANCHEZ Daniel;  CARDEÑOSA Adrián;  LOZANO Jaime;  ARIAS José Maria;  CARDEIRA Bruno;  CARDOSO Carlota;  CARVALHO Filipe;  SILVA João;  AMÉZAGA Adrià;  BADIA Marc; 

2025-03-19

ION GNSS+ 2024

JRC141413

978-0-936406-39-8 (online),   

2331-5954 (online),   

https://www.ion.org/publications/browse.cfm?proceedingsID=167,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141413,   

10.33012/2024.19759 (online),