Satellite CPF Predictions
The ILRS network uses CPF orbit predictions provided by mission operators and analysis centres.
The SGF calculates precise satellite orbit predictions daily for most of the ILRS targets and makes these orbits available to other SLR stations internationally. These predictions can be compared in advance to those from other CPF providers so that stations and providers can be confident in their accuracy.
The Consolidated Prediction Format (CPF) is the official format used by the ILRS. It consists of geocentric X, Y, and Z positions at different epochs that can be interpolated for very accurate predictions. Accurate prediction of the positions of the full range of laser-tracked satellites is possible in a single, simple format.
The plots below compare the CPFs when there is more than one provider by taking the differences in metres between the orbital X, Y and Z values at zero hours for today and for the next three or four days.
Full residual plot comparisons are plotted here.
Difference between CPF Providers
JD X Y Z
Ajisai SGF - ITT
aji 59809. 5.677 -5.235 -6.533
aji 59810. 5.483 -9.940 -5.868
aji 59811. 5.622 -17.602 -6.054
aji 59812. 5.370 -24.441 -5.857
Ajisai ITT - JAX
Ajisai JAX - SGF
Ajisai SGF - DGF
aji 59809. 0.214 -0.353 0.498
aji 59810. 0.287 -0.006 0.881
aji 59811. 0.495 0.795 1.131
aji 59812. 0.556 1.890 1.395
Ajisai ITT - DGF
aji 59809. -5.463 4.882 7.031
aji 59810. -5.196 9.933 6.749
aji 59811. -5.127 18.397 7.185
aji 59812. -4.821 26.367 7.243
Beacon-C SGF - ITT
bec 59809. 6.778 -48.462 -31.073
bec 59810. 9.348 -100.495 -48.721
bec 59811. -3.214 -180.851 -58.385
bec 59812. 8.851 -295.906 -84.015
Cyrosat-2 ESA - ITT
Etalon-1 SGF - ITT
eta 59809. 11.554 -39.840 -39.677
eta 59810. 20.478 -47.796 -70.407
eta 59811. 21.948 -57.657 -87.770
Etalon-1 SGF - DGF
eta 59809. -0.016 -0.332 0.635
eta 59810. 0.162 -0.423 0.837
eta 59811. 0.298 -0.383 1.054
Etalon-1 ITT - DGF
eta 59809. -11.570 39.509 40.312
eta 59810. -20.317 47.373 71.244
eta 59811. -21.650 57.274 88.824
eta 59812. -31.194 70.860 100.794
Etalon-2 SGF - ITT
etb 59809. 47.695 -2.381 53.630
etb 59810. -8.505 -49.596 44.627
etb 59811. -6.808 -65.939 47.767
Etalon-2 SGF - DGF
etb 59809. 0.096 0.134 0.446
etb 59810. -0.035 0.056 0.417
etb 59811. -0.061 0.003 0.430
Etalon-2 ITT - DGF
etb 59809. -47.599 2.514 -53.184
etb 59810. 8.469 49.652 -44.210
etb 59811. 6.747 65.943 -47.337
etb 59812. 4.383 75.135 -54.055
Larets SGF - ITT
lar 59809. 9.564 -11.430 -0.941
lar 59810. 7.414 -19.126 2.699
lar 59811. 12.328 -24.597 2.004
lar 59812. 8.518 -34.358 4.327
Larets SGF - DGF
lar 59809. 3.151 -13.749 -2.612
lar 59810. -0.167 -23.549 0.025
lar 59811. 6.443 -29.658 -3.445
lar 59812. 0.918 -41.206 -2.499
Larets ITT - DGF
lar 59809. -6.413 -2.319 -1.670
lar 59810. -7.581 -4.423 -2.675
lar 59811. -5.885 -5.061 -5.449
lar 59812. -7.600 -6.848 -6.826
LARES SGF - ITT
las 59809. 9.863 -14.683 -4.084
las 59810. 8.370 -24.512 -2.276
las 59811. 11.946 -36.656 -4.281
las 59812. 10.006 -49.512 -4.804
LARES SGF - DGF
las 59809. 0.152 -0.400 0.205
las 59810. 0.035 -0.914 0.450
las 59811. 0.262 -1.484 0.350
las 59812. -0.085 -2.206 0.752
LARES ITT - DGF
las 59809. -9.711 14.283 4.289
las 59810. -8.335 23.598 2.727
las 59811. -11.684 35.172 4.631
las 59812. -9.911 47.297 5.184
LAGEOS-1 SGF - ITT
lga 59809. 13.081 -1.308 -6.194
lga 59810. 13.875 -3.004 -4.643
lga 59811. 13.919 -6.880 -7.609
lga 59812. 14.272 -5.647 -7.333
LAGEOS-1 ITT - JAX
LAGEOS-1 JAX - SGF
LAGEOS-1 SGF - DGF
lga 59809. 0.006 -0.198 0.019
lga 59810. 0.068 -0.245 0.022
lga 59811. 0.002 -0.327 -0.016
lga 59812. 0.036 -0.368 -0.010
LAGEOS-2 SGF - ITT
lgb 59809. 10.815 6.938 -9.870
lgb 59810. 10.672 8.881 -8.913
lgb 59811. 12.120 14.229 -10.373
lgb 59812. 9.066 19.157 -9.168
LAGEOS-2 ITT - JAX
LAGEOS-2 JAX - SGF
LAGEOS-2 SGF - DGF
lgb 59809. -0.061 -0.252 0.103
lgb 59810. -0.065 -0.417 0.109
lgb 59811. -0.170 -0.864 0.213
lgb 59812. 0.031 -1.329 0.042
Stella SGF - ITT
ste 59809. 9.863 1.788 -8.059
ste 59810. 10.577 6.094 -8.835
ste 59811. 10.708 11.894 -9.362
ste 59812. 11.168 16.957 -9.771
Stella SGF - DGF
ste 59809. -0.689 -1.696 0.202
ste 59810. -0.929 -3.733 0.216
ste 59811. -0.874 -6.500 0.051
ste 59812. -0.711 -8.303 -0.205
Stella ITT - DGF
ste 59809. -10.552 -3.483 8.261
ste 59810. -11.506 -9.827 9.050
ste 59811. -11.582 -18.394 9.413
ste 59812. -11.880 -25.260 9.566
Starlette SGF - ITT
str 59809. 7.090 -7.357 -8.614
str 59810. 8.107 -15.848 -9.461
str 59811. 8.063 -25.678 -8.789
str 59812. 9.902 -36.667 -9.655
Starlette SGF - DGF
str 59809. -0.158 -0.101 0.009
str 59810. -0.156 0.022 -0.041
str 59811. -0.162 0.101 -0.044
str 59812. -0.123 0.048 -0.094
Starlette ITT - DGF
str 59809. -7.248 7.256 8.623
str 59810. -8.262 15.870 9.420
str 59811. -8.226 25.779 8.745
str 59812. -10.012 36.720 9.564