Some Preliminary Results of the Fast Calibration Trip During the Intelsat Field Trials

Abstract : At the beginning of 1994, field trials for an international two-way time transfer experiment using the INTELSAT V-A(F13) satellite at 307oE were started. The experiment was set up to last one year and involved six European time laboratories and two North American time laboratories. Three times a week, 5-minute time transfer sessions were scheduled. At each of these laboratories, GPS common-view time observations were also performed. From September 22 to October 22, 1994 a calibration trip which visiting participating laboratories in Europe was organized. It involved a portable Vertex 1.8 meter two-way station (Fly Away STation[FAST]), belonging to USNO. and a portable GPS time transfer receiver, belonging to BIPM. The calibration trip was conducted by members of the staff of USNO and Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur (OCA). It provided differential delays of the satellite Earth stations and GPS receivers. The initial analysis of this calibration campaign are reported here.