Aided-Airborne Gravity Gradiometer Survey System (GGSS) Study.

Several mechanization variants of the GGSS baseline configuration have been analyzed to assure an optimal and robust design and to establish confidence in the various navigation back-up modes. The analysis determined the current and anticipated performance of several sensors, individually and then in appropriate combination with the GGSS. Until more of the full Global Positioning System GPS constellation is in place, the currently planned precise reference clock and altimeter aides are capable of providing the increased visibility intervals and navigation accuracies required for GGSS airborne testing and initial survey operations. Moving-receiver radio interferometry to GPS is the most promising approach for satisfying the stringent navigation accuracies which may be required for GGSS surface testing. Furthermore, an improved measurement of gravity can be attained by augmenting a GGSS aiding gravimeter with interferometrically derived position and velocity.