PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING A SPECIALIZED INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR SATELLITE RADIO-COMMUNICATIONS STATIONS ON MOBILE FACILITIES

An inertial navigation system (INS) is employed for satellite tracking by satellite radio communications stations employing directional ante nnas and installed on mobile facilities. INS systems are commonly incl uded in equipment on aircraft and ships. The specifications of the INS may either fully satisfy or not satisfy the requirements imposed on t he system by the station. Many mobile facilities (ground-based facilit ies) do not have their own INS systems. In this case, they are include d in the station equipment and form part of the antenna control system (ACS). The INS accounts for up to 30% of the volume and cost of equip ment in existing satellite radio communications stations. Hence, oblig atory improvements in INS performance characteristics will reduce equi pment cost and size considerably. In this connection, the problem of d eveloping a specialized inertial navigation system (SINS) is an import ant problem.