On the VLBI-satellite laser ranging Iron Triangle intercomparison experiment

Abstract

Simulations were performed to determine the suitability of the proposed station locations. The criterion was a comparison among the possible station configuration of the standard deviations of baseline and Earth rotation parameters estimated from a least squares covariance analysis. Only the relative magnitudes of the standard deviations were addressed in the analysis. Only random errors were assumed and no provision was made for systematic effects. The Iron Triangle, consisting of the stations at Westford (Haystack), Massachusetts, Owens Valley, California, and Ft. Davis, Texas, was regarded as the structure of the proposed network with options to incorporate either the Goldstone, California, or Green Bank, West Virginia, station or both. It was decided to include the Richmond, Florida, station in the analysis since it offered more North-South separation and therefore could strengthen the geometry of the network especially in the recovery of Earth rotation parameters.