A modified approach for automated reference point determination of SLR and VLBI telescopes

Abstract

Abstract The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) is derived by combining several space geodetic techniques. Basically, a meaningful combination of the geodesic space techniques is impossible without further geometrical information, i. e. local-ties. Local-tie vectors are defined between the geometrical reference points of space geodetic techniques at co-location stations. These local-ties are introduced during the inter-technique combination process, to overcome the weak physical connection between the space geodetic techniques. In particular, the determination of the reference point of radio telescopes or laser telescopes is a challenging task and requires indirect methods. Moreover, the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) strives for an automated and continued reference point determination with sub-millimeter accuracy, because deviations in local-ties bias global results. This investigation presents a modified approach for automated reference point determination. The new approach extends the prior work of Lösler but evades the synchronization between the terrestrial instrument and the telescope. Thus, synchronization errors are omitted and the technical effort is reduced. A proof of concept was carried out at Geodetic Observatory Wettzell in 2018. Using a high-precision, mobile laser-tracker, the reference point of the Satellite Observing System Wettzell (SOS-W) was derived. An extended version of the in-house developed software package HEIMDALL was employed for a mostly automated data collection. To evaluate the estimated reference point, the derived results are compared with the results of two approved models.