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GNSS Receivers From RUAG Space Will Be Aboard ESA’s Sentinel-6 Satellite

On November 21, the European-US ocean measuring satellite Sentinel-6 will be launched into orbit. The satellite will be equipped with GNSS receivers by RUAG Space.

Artist rendition of the Sentinel-6 satellite and a perspective view over Earth.
Image is courtesy of ESA.

With the upcoming launch of ocean monitoring satellite Sentinel-6, two new Precise Orbit Determination Receivers (PODRIX) from RUAG Space will make their maiden flight. PODRIX achieves a very high, real-time, on-orbit accuracy of the satellite’s position in orbit from below one meter to a few centimeters utilizing on-ground post-processing. The high accuracy is achieved through simultaneously processing of multi-frequency signals from the U.S. GPS and European Galileo satellites.

The PODRIX Multi – Constellation Precise Orbit Determination GNSS Receiver.
Image is courtesy of RUAG Space.

Seventy receivers of the latest receiver generation ordered PODRIX receivers are built on the experience of the 23 GPS-only receivers of the RUAG Space legacy receiver generation that are currently working flawlessly on-orbit. In total, more than 70 receivers of the latest receiver generation (LEORIX, GEORIX and PODRIX) have been ordered by customers in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the USA so far. They will be launched for different Low- and Geostationary Earth Orbit missions within the next few months or years.

PODRIX GNSS receivers are the latest addition to RUAG’s GNSS receiver product family that already includes LEORIX (navigation receiver for Low Earth Orbit) and GEORIX (navigation receiver for Geostationary Earth Orbit).

Executive Comments

“They are all based on the European Space Agency’s latest GNSS processing technology,” said Anders Linder, SVP Electronics at RUAG Space. “This launch is a remarkable milestone for our GNSS receiver family, which include the most precise receiver on the market.” Kurt Kober, General Manager Product Unit Navigation & Payload Processors, adds: “This maiden flight is an important step towards gaining flight heritage for our new PODRIX receivers. One key success factor for us is the ability to provide our customers with a complete package, consisting of both, GNSS receivers and antennas.”