Global GPS Satellite Orbits and Earth Rotation Parameters

1994 to present data from the International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS), providing high-accuracy satellite and Earth observation data. The dataset includes GPS satellite orbits, Earth rotation parameters, and site coordinates, collected from a global network of about 40 permanent tracking stations. It is maintained by the Institut Geographique National (IGN) in France as a Global Data Center.

Use Cases

• Model tectonic plate velocities by analyzing time-series of precise tracking site coordinates from the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF).
• Calibrate satellite navigation systems using high-quality GPS satellite orbits with estimated accuracy better than 20 cm.
• Study Earth rotation dynamics by analyzing the provided Earth Rotation Parameters time-series.
• Perform precise point positioning using the phase and pseudorange observations available in daily RINEX files for each IGS tracking site.

Strengths

• Centimeter-level accuracy for relative site positions and satellite orbits.
• Global coverage from about 40 permanent GPS tracking sites.
• Continuous data collection since the service's official start on January 1, 1994.

Limitations

• Online data availability is limited to the most recent 150 days; older data requires special request and may be on obsolete media like 9-inch tape.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and complete column schema are not documented in the provided description.

Provenance

Source

International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS), with Institut Geographique National (IGN), France, as the hosting Global Data Center.

Collection Method

Collected from a global network of permanent GPS tracking stations, processed by multiple IGS Analysis Centers.

Time Range

1994 to present (with a pilot phase starting earlier).

Freshness

Data is kept online for 150 days, suggesting regular updates from the global tracking network.

Geography

Global, based on globally distributed tracking sites.