GNSS-based Orbit and Gravity Field Determination
Time-variable gravity field recovery with commercial nano-satellites
By analyzing orbital perturbations of Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, information about the long wavelength part of Earth’s time-variable gravity field can be retrieved. For this purpose, the satellite's trajectory is tracked by an onboard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver.
This principle, also known as High-Low Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking (HL-SST), has primarily been applied to scientific LEO missions. In collaboration with the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB), our research is currently focused on exploiting the huge potential of commercial mega-constellations (e.g., the Spire CubeSat constellation) for gravity field recovery.
Key Publications
Grombein, T.; Arnold, D.; Lasser, M.; Jäggi, A. (2025). Gravity field recovery based on GNSS data of nano-satellites: a case study for the Spire CubeSat constellation. Journal of Geodesy, 99 (10), Article no: 78. doi:10.1007/s00190-025-01998-8
Arnold, D.; Grombein, T.; Schreiter, L.; Sterken, V.; Jäggi, A. (2023). Reprocessed precise science orbits and gravity field recovery for the entire GOCE mission. Journal of Geodesy, 97 (7), Art.-Nr.: 67. doi:10.1007/s00190-023-01752-y
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Meyer, U.; Jäggi, A. (2022). Determination and Combination of Monthly Gravity Field Time Series from Kinematic Orbits of GRACE, GRACE-FO and Swarm. Geodesy for a Sustainable Earth – Proceedings of the 2021 Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy, Beijing, China, June 28 – July 2, 2021. Ed.: J. Freymueller, 191–201, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/1345_2022_163
Grombein, T.; Miller, A.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Jäggi, A. (2025). How orbit data of nano-satellites can contribute to study the Earth’s gravity field. COSPAR Scientific Symposium (2025), Nicosia, Cyprus, November 3–7, 2025. doi:10.5445/IR/1000187824
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Miller, A.; Arnold, D.; Jäggi, A. (2025). Joint orbit and gravity field determination from GPS carrier phase observations of Spire CubeSats. IAG Scientific Assembly (2025), Rimini, Italy, September 1–5, 2025. doi:10.5445/IR/1000185057
Gschwind, C.; Seitz, K.; Grombein, T.; Kutterer, H. (2025). Zum Einsatz kinematischer Orbits für die zeitvariable Schwerefeldbestimmung = On the use of kinematic orbits for time-variable gravity field determination. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000181234
Grombein, T.; Arnold, D.; Lasser, M.; Jäggi, A. (2024, September 27). Gravity field recovery with nano-satellites of the Spire constellation. Frontiers of Geodetic Science (FroGS 2024), Stuttgart, Germany, September 26–27, 2024. doi:10.5445/IR/1000174614
Gschwind, C.; Grombein, T.; Seitz, K.; Kutterer, H. (2024). On the use of kinematic orbits for time-variable gravity field determination. Frontiers of Geodetic Science (FroGS 2024), Stuttgart, Germany, September 26–27, 2024.
Jäggi, A.; Arnold, D.; Mao, X.; Kobel, C.; Miller, A.; Kalarus, M.; Peter, H.; Grombein, T.; Schreiter, L. (2024). Precise Orbit Determination of the Spire Satellite Constellation for geodetic, geophysical, and ionospheric applications. AGU Fall Meeting (2024), Washington, DC, USA, December 9–13, 2024.
Jäggi, A.; Arnold, D.; Mao, X.; Kobel, C.; Miller, A.; Kalarus, M.; Peter, H.; Grombein, T.; Schreiter, L. (2024). Precise Orbit Determination of the Spire Satellite Constellation for Geodetic, Geophysical, and Ionospheric Applications. 45th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (2024), Busan, South Korea, July 13–21, 2024.
Grombein, T.; Arnold, D.; Kobel, C.; Lasser, M.; Jäggi, A. (2023). Gravity field recovery based on GPS data of CubeSats from the Spire constellation. 28th General Assembly of IUGG (2023), Berlin, Germany, July 11–20, 2023. doi:10.57757/IUGG23-3392
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Meyer, U.; Jäggi, A. (2022). Assessment of gravity field models derived from Sentinel GPS data. European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU 2022), Vienna, Austria, May 23–27, 2022. doi:10.48350/170573
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Meyer, U.; Jäggi, A. (2022). Combined gravity field time series derived from Swarm and Sentinel GPS data. IAG Symposium Gravity, Geoid and Height Systems (2022), Austin, Texas, USA, September 12–14, 2022. doi:10.48350/173822
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Meyer, U.; Jäggi, A. (2021). Time-variable gravity field recovery from kinematic positions of Low Earth Orbiting satellites. European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU 2021), Online, April 19–30, 2021. doi:10.48350/156175
Grombein, T.; Lasser, M.; Arnold, D.; Meyer, U.; Jäggi, A. (2021). On the combination of gravity field time series derived from kinematic positions of Low Earth Orbiting satellites. Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG 2021), Beijing, China, June 28–July 2, 2021. doi:10.48350/166406
Grombein, T.; Arnold, D.; Jäggi, A. (2021). Time-variable gravity field recovery from reprocessed GOCE precise science orbits. 43th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (2021), Sydney, Australia, January 28–February 4, 2021. doi:10.48350/152967
Grombein, T.; Arnold, D.; Jäggi, A. (2019, April). GPS-based gravity field recovery from reprocessed GOCE precise science orbits. European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU 2019), Vienna, Austria, April 7–12, 2019. doi:10.5445/IR/1000094594
Arnold, D.; Grombein, T.; Schreiter, L.; Sterken, V.; Jäggi, A. (2019). Reprocessing of GOCE Precise Science Orbits. ESA Living Planet Symposium (2019), Milan, Italy, May 13–17, 2019. doi:10.7892/BORIS.143216
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hansjörg Kutterer
Úniversity Professor, Member of the Institute Management Board
Úniversity Professor, Member of the Institute Management Board
+49 721 608-43674
hansjoerg kutterer ∂does-not-exist.kit edu
www.gik.kit.edu/mitarbeiter_kutterer_hansjoerg.php
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01.90 Campus Süd
