Museum of Space Communications
ETS-‡[ ProjectResearch on Artificial Satellite OrbitSpace-Time Applications Project
Space-Time Standards Integration Project

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Observing the earth's orientation in real time

Space coordinates based on the earth's coordinates are applied to determine the location of space vehicles. Hence, the earth is a reference. But the irregular change of the earth rotation and its orientation causes the difference of space vehicles' position from the predicted location The earth rotates unevenly partly due to atmosphere and ocean movement; thus, we need to observe the earth’s orientation and adjust the space coordinates. Our group is researching Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) technology to observe the earth’s position in real time. This technology involves determining the exact inclination of the earth by analyzing radio waves received from a distant planet named Quasar using several parabolic antennas around the earth with the help of international and domestic cooperation.

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