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 60740. 1.199 1.538 -1.384
aji 60741. 1.220 2.829 -1.144
aji 60742. 1.198 4.453 -1.124
aji 60743. 0.807 6.190 -0.990
Ajisai SGF - DGF
aji 60740. -0.542 2.895 -0.229
aji 60741. -0.243 6.176 -0.945
aji 60742. -0.693 11.007 -0.665
aji 60743. -1.796 16.231 -1.188
aji 60744. -0.434 21.927 -2.361
Ajisai ITT - DGF
aji 60740. -1.742 1.357 1.154
aji 60741. -1.463 3.348 0.199
aji 60742. -1.891 6.553 0.458
aji 60743. -2.603 10.042 -0.198
Beacon-C SGF - ITT
bec 60740. 4.171 36.616 -11.486
bec 60741. 2.733 70.231 -14.671
bec 60742. 1.192 115.250 -16.534
bec 60743. -1.863 176.241 -19.034
Etalon-1 SGF - ITT
eta 60740. -4.897 -13.036 -33.472
eta 60741. 5.607 -11.019 -32.993
eta 60742. 13.491 -2.201 -37.445
eta 60743. 5.815 -8.637 -34.985
Etalon-1 SGF - DGF
eta 60740. -2.298 0.896 -5.822
eta 60741. -4.749 -10.956 -10.038
eta 60742. 2.766 -23.900 -4.601
eta 60743. 16.750 -24.531 8.295
eta 60744. 16.921 -14.500 -6.410
Etalon-1 ITT - DGF
eta 60740. 2.599 13.933 27.650
eta 60741. -10.356 0.063 22.956
eta 60742. -10.725 -21.699 32.844
eta 60743. -8.469 3.556 25.586
Etalon-2 SGF - ITT
etb 60740. -11.189 -5.667 -26.127
etb 60741. -13.828 -18.295 -11.211
etb 60742. 2.053 -28.348 0.756
etb 60743. 14.991 -20.264 -46.558
Etalon-2 SGF - DGF
etb 60740. -0.124 -0.101 0.369
etb 60741. -0.203 -0.221 0.618
etb 60742. -0.110 -0.420 0.960
etb 60743. 0.121 -0.495 1.107
etb 60744. 0.211 -0.423 1.166
Etalon-2 ITT - DGF
etb 60740. 11.066 5.566 26.495
etb 60741. 13.624 18.074 11.829
etb 60742. -2.164 27.928 0.203
etb 60743. -14.978 19.927 47.261
Larets SGF - ITT
lar 60740. 0.847 -3.584 1.123
lar 60741. 0.849 -5.584 1.595
lar 60742. 0.150 -8.131 2.439
lar 60743. 0.585 -9.766 2.970
Larets SGF - DGF
lar 60740. -5.280 20.219 2.741
lar 60741. -15.511 43.544 9.919
lar 60742. -15.965 90.680 12.189
lar 60743. -12.732 141.008 6.377
lar 60744. -39.986 184.424 23.766
Larets ITT - DGF
lar 60740. -6.127 23.803 1.618
lar 60741. -16.360 49.128 8.324
lar 60742. -16.115 98.812 9.750
lar 60743. -36.087 130.739 21.713
LARES SGF - ITT
las 60740. 2.031 -3.660 0.721
las 60741. 0.888 -6.350 1.925
las 60742. 2.520 -10.325 1.323
las 60743. 0.946 -14.982 2.080
LARES SGF - DGF
las 60740. 0.028 0.209 -0.041
las 60741. -0.010 0.262 0.003
las 60742. 0.052 0.185 -0.102
las 60743. -0.035 0.221 0.025
las 60744. 0.104 0.200 -0.171
LARES ITT - DGF
las 60740. -2.003 3.869 -0.762
las 60741. -0.898 6.612 -1.922
las 60742. -2.468 10.510 -1.426
las 60743. -0.907 15.155 -2.177
LARES-2 SGF - DGF
la2 60740. 0.003 0.109 -0.018
la2 60741. -0.033 0.148 -0.026
la2 60742. -0.028 0.192 -0.019
la2 60743. -0.037 0.273 -0.010
la2 60744. -0.026 0.309 -0.021
LAGEOS-1 SGF - ITT
lga 60740. 3.103 1.201 0.417
lga 60741. 2.824 1.435 0.356
lga 60742. 2.870 1.443 0.907
lga 60743. 2.907 1.497 1.297
LAGEOS-1 SGF - DGF
lga 60740. -0.008 -0.109 -0.078
lga 60741. 0.002 -0.155 -0.087
lga 60742. -0.016 -0.165 -0.153
lga 60743. -0.024 -0.206 -0.181
lga 60744. 0.000 -0.329 -0.234
LAGEOS-2 SGF - ITT
lgb 60740. 2.753 -0.420 -1.651
lgb 60741. 2.244 -1.009 -1.325
lgb 60742. 2.886 -1.175 -0.722
lgb 60743. 1.993 -2.419 0.414
LAGEOS-2 SGF - DGF
lgb 60740. -0.009 -0.023 -0.058
lgb 60741. -0.048 -0.164 -0.110
lgb 60742. 0.027 -0.268 -0.116
lgb 60743. -0.166 -0.612 -0.068
lgb 60744. 0.128 -0.673 -0.236
Stella SGF - ITT
ste 60740. 3.032 3.894 -2.647
ste 60741. 3.994 5.980 -3.512
ste 60742. 3.774 10.688 -3.625
ste 60743. 3.850 15.943 -4.306
Stella SGF - DGF
ste 60740. 0.865 2.642 -0.571
ste 60741. 2.303 5.074 -1.801
ste 60742. 2.856 12.550 -2.152
ste 60743. 2.797 21.572 -2.776
ste 60744. 0.953 30.754 -0.757
Stella ITT - DGF
ste 60740. -2.167 -1.252 2.076
ste 60741. -1.691 -0.906 1.712
ste 60742. -0.918 1.862 1.474
ste 60743. -1.052 5.629 1.529
Starlette SGF - ITT
str 60740. 0.931 -0.296 -1.122
str 60741. 0.980 1.016 -0.910
str 60742. 0.937 1.203 -0.705
str 60743. 0.982 1.703 -0.497
Starlette SGF - DGF
str 60740. 0.165 -1.552 0.141
str 60741. 0.134 -3.954 0.335
str 60742. 0.479 -7.208 -0.003
str 60743. 0.975 -12.217 -0.335
str 60744. -1.757 -18.153 1.459
Starlette ITT - DGF
str 60740. -0.767 -1.256 1.263
str 60741. -0.846 -4.970 1.245
str 60742. -0.458 -8.411 0.702
str 60743. -1.550 -13.770 1.074