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What's DORIS?
See the official website.
What kind of information may be found on which center?
IDS has three information/data centers:
What is the nominal data delivery time?
DORIS measurement files are usually delivered to the Data Centers with a 48-hour latency.
Delivery times are linked to processing time of the precise orbit ephemeris (POE), and in particular to the collect of precise measurement of the solar activity and Earth orientation parameters.
Delays may temporarily increase due to manpower availability.
Some subsets of data were re-delivered to the IDS Data Centers to include improved corrections. These new deliveries with an incremented version number are documented in DORISmails.
- SPOT-4 (May 1998 – January 1999) (DORISmail 0701)
- Jason-2 (July 2008 – April 2011) (DORISmail 0750)
- Cryosat-2 (May 2010 - April 2011) (DORISmail 0750)
- Envisat (April 2002 – May 2007) (DORISmail 0823)
Using DORIS data in DORIS/RINEX format
Network
- Permanent sites, colocations
- This global map shows the current network.
- General information (Site log)
- For general information such as site description, local ties, beacon identification, go to the Site log pages.
- ITRF2020 coordinates and velocities
- They may be found directly in sinex format for the DORIS network on the dedicated ITRF website.
See also the complete ITRF2020 for all space geodesy techniques. - Ground antennas
- There are two types of ground antennas. See the geometrical caracteristics and examples of the two types of antennas: Galapagos (Alcatel), Santa Cruz (Starec).
- Satellite visibility
- The maps provided here show the visibility circle around each station with a given cut-off angle over the horizon.
- Host agencies
- The network of DORIS permanent stations is one of the essential component of the system. It is in operation for more than ten years. The host agencies play a key role for the maintenance of the stations with an onsite support.
- Maintenance, renovation
- The IGN/SIRS is in charge of the maintenance of the network.
- Contact
- Jérôme Saunier is responsible for the DORIS network at IGN.
Stations
- Frequency shift of the 3rd and 4th DORIS beacon generation
- The transmitted frequencies of the 3rd and 4th DORIS beacon generation may be shifted with respect to the nominal DORIS frequencies to avoid jamming with other DORIS stations in the vicinity. This function is only used when two channels are available on the DORIS instrument that is to say with SPOT5, JASON, ENVISAT and the soon CRYOSAT. See a detailed description and the history list of the stations using the shifted mode.
- Ground station's USO warm-up period
- beacons of 1st and 2nd generations: no precise information; 10 days may be considered
- beacons of 3rd generation: 10 days
- beacons of 4th generation: to be completed
How the stations are identified
- Definition
- The stations are identified by a 4-letter code (here also named ID) and a DOMES number.
- For instance, the DORIS station in Toulouse, France, is designed in 2024 as: TLSB (4-letter code), 10003S005 (DOMES number)
- Rules
- A 4-letter code (ID) is given each time the antenna is changed
- A DOMES number is given each time the reference point is changed.
- As a consequence, when an antenna is changed, the reference point (center of the red painted ring on the antenna body) is considered to be moved, and then both the ID and the DOMES number are changed. This means that a DOMES number of a DORIS station is always associated to a single ID, and vice versa (except for the Master Beacons, see below).
- Note that ID and DOMES number are kept unchanged when the beacon or one of its components is changed.
- About the 4-letter code
- The 4th character of the ground beacon 4-letter code (sometimes also referred to as mnemonic) identifies the type of antenna:
- letter 'A' for the ALCATEL type (last antenna removed in 2007) (eg. ROTA)
- letter 'B' for the STAREC type, former error budget (installation before October 2014) (eg. ROVB)
- letter 'C' for the STAREC type, improved error budget (installed from October 2014) (eg. ROWC)
- Type C
- The third type (4-letter code ending with letter C) has been introduced to clearly indicate sites equipped with DORIS STAREC antenna produced since 2014 July with a consolidated process. This means that they have the same characteristics than the previously deployed STAREC antenna, but with an improved error budget. In other words, there is no design difference between type “B” and type “C”, they have the same specifications. The distance between the 2 Ghz phase center and the DORIS reference plan stays unchanged (cf the geometrical caracteristics).
- The type “C” antennas progressively replaced the type “B” antennas. The first four were PDNC (Ponta Delgada), OWEC (Owenga), ROWC (Rothera), KEUC (Kerguelen).
-
Note that the STAREC B and C have the same antenna phase law.
- More about the consolidated process
- In the frame of permanent performance validation and improvement of the DORIS system, a characterization of DORIS STAREC ground antennae was performed over years 2013 and 2014.This leads to a new phase law correction that was provided. During this characterization, it appeared that there was a dispersion in mechanic mounting of STAREC antennae. This dispersion implies an increase of the error budget link to the phase law correction. To improve the error budget, a work has been performed with the antenna manufacturer. The manufacturing process has been consolidated and thus, the budget error has been improved. (Cf. C. Tourain's presentation at IDS Workshop 2014)
- The ghost type D
- A new type of antenna named STAREC D was announced in July 2019 to distinguish the characteristics of a new batch of antennas from the previous one.
However, following new measurements in the anechoic chambers it appeared that these antennas have exactly the same characteristics as the antennas named STAREC type C (see above). This means they have the same position of the phase centers and same phase laws. These latest results have been double checked, validated and confirmed. - As a consequence, there is no need to introduce a new type of antenna, and the name STAREC D is abandoned in December 2019.
- St John's, the only site inappropriately termed as STAREC D, is renamed STKC (with the 4th letter C for the STAREC type C) to avoid any ambiguity.
Correction are progressively applied in the data, documents and products on the web and ftp sites, i.e., in particular:
- change "STKD" to "STKC" in RINEX files,
- re-deliver past RINEX files containing STKD (change to STKC)
- correct of the files describing the antennas and remove of the antex starec D phase law file,
As Type D has not been implemented in POD processing, STKD was not used for MOE and POE, and was not included in DORIS2.2 data. - This erratum was announced in dorismail 1202, to cancel and replace the previous dorismail 1191.
- Documents
- DORIS system ground segment models
- Readme file and antenna phase laws in ANTEX format for Alcatel type A and for Starec types B and C.
- The DOMES Numbering System
- DOMES (Directory Of MERIT Sites) is a numbering system for the space geodetic sites. It was designed at the start of the MERIT (Monitoring of Earth Rotation and Intercomparison of the Techniques of Observation and Analysis) campaign in early 80s in order to give an unambiguous identifier to all instrument reference points and markers involved in this MERIT campaign.
The first publication of this information was done in a catalogue published by the Bureau International de l'Heure (BIH) and entitled "Directory Of MERIT Sites", hence DOMES. The BIH, together with the IGN group, was acting as MERIT coordinating center.
Since the official start of IERS in 1988, the TRF section of the IERS/CB continued this task for all ITRF contributing stations.
More details about the DOMES Numbering System can be found on the ITRF website.
For information about the MERIT project, see MERIT/COTES Joint Working Groups, MERIT Campaign: Connection of Reference Frames, Implementation Plan, 1983
- About IDs and DOMES of Master Beacons
- Except for the Master Beacons (MB), the DOMES number of a DORIS station is always associated to a single ID.
When the antenna is changed or moved, a new reference point is defined and a new DOMES number and a new ID are given, even if the tie with respect to the previous reference point is null. When the beacon is changed, DOMES number and ID are not changed.
For the Master Beacons (Kourou, Toulouse, Hartebeesthoek and Papeete), it occurred that IDs were changed but the DOMES number was kept unchanged. These are the following cases for which one DOMES number is associated to two different IDs. - Kourou: two IDs, KRUB and KRVB, but one single DOMES number 97301S004
- Toulouse: two IDs, TLHA and TLIA, but one single DOMES number 10003S003 (TLIA & TLHA are the alternate acronyms (nominal and redundant) Master Beacon)
- Hartebeesthoek: two IDs, HBKB and HBLB, but one single DOMES number 30302S006 (see also DORISmail No 474: “the acronym change - from HBKB to HBLB - in September 2005 was required by the change in the beacon status: from standard orbit determination beacon to master beacon. Since there was no physical change on the antenna (which was not moved nor replaced) both points are exactly identical, hence the unchanged DOMES number.”)
- Papeete: two IDs, PATB and PAUB, but one single DOMES number 92201S010 (see also DORISmail No 632: “In November 2009 the Papeete DORIS station has been upgraded, becoming the fourth Master Beacon in the network. The antenna 4-char ID be incremented from PATB to PAUB, even though the antenna was not changed nor moved.” )
- The IDs were changed either when the nominal MB was switched to the redundant MB or vice versa (Kourou, Toulouse) or when the standard orbit determination beacon was upgraded to a MB (Hartebeesthoek, Papeete). The DOMES number was not changed because there was no physical change on the antenna.?
- The example of the Kerguelen site
- To illustrate how IDs and DOMEs evolve over the life of a DORIS station, let's take the example of the Kerguelen station. Installed in 1987 during the construction phase of the permanent DORIS network, this station is always operational in 2024 after several material changes, collecting the largest number of “ID-DOMES” pairs.
- KERA 91201S002; KERB 91201S003; KESB 91201S004; KETB 91201S005; KEUC 91201S006; KEVC 91201S007; KEWC 91201S008; KEXC 91201S009; KEYC 91201S010
- The history of these changes is summarized in the station's sitelog file: https://ids-doris.org/network/sitelogs/station.html?code=KERGUELEN
- The time series of the station position can be displayed with the IDS webservice at: https://apps.ids-doris.org/apps/stcdtool.html?site=KERGUELEN
- It shows the time evolution of the station position differences in North, East and Up at observation epochs relative to a reference position. The method used to stick together the segments of each successive antenna of the site is based on the DORIS-DORIS tie file.
Short life stations
- Temporary station before 1993.0
-
- Brest (France): BRAB 1991
- Grasse (France): RRGB 1990-1992
- Sanaa (Yemen): YENB 20201S002 1992
- Quincy (USA) QUIB 40433S021 1993
- Boulc (France)
- Corbin (Virginia, USA)
- Early years campaign stations
- South America seismic gap monitoring campaign
- Cariquima CARB 41710S001 1992-1998
- Iquique IQUB 41708S001 1992-1998
- San Felix SAFB 41711S001 1992-1998
- Tanna TANB 92802S001 1992-1998
- Lifou LIFB 92722S001 1992-1998
- Goat GOAB 40476S101 1993
- Kaena Point KAEB 40476S201 1993
- Waimea WAIA 40475S001 1993
- Hawaiian Volcano Obs HVOA 40476S001 1990-1993
- Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée STEA 10081S001 1990 & 1991 (+STEB ?)
- DJKB, DJMB, DJCB?
- Paramushir PASB 12339S001 1992-1998
- Not permanent station after 1993.0
-
- Grasse GR2B 1992-1997
- Ajaccio AJAB 10077S002 2002
- Abandoned sites of the permanent network
-
- Signy Island SIGA 30607S001 1990-1992
- Tromso TROA 10302S010 1990-1991
- Flores FLOA 31901S001 1988-1993
- First equipment before 1993
-
- Arlit ARLA 33710S001 1989-1992
- Richmond RICA 40499S015 1989-1992
- Socorro Island SOCA 40503S002 before 1991
- Kourou KRUA 97301S005 1986-1992
Space segment
- On-board instrument's USO warm-up period
- USO of SPOT-2, -3, -4, TOPEX/POSEIDON, Jason-1, ENVISAT: 40 days
- USO of SPOT-5: 10 days
- DGXX: to be completed
- DGXX-S: to be completed
- Tandem phases
- The term tandem is used for the intercalibration phase between a new mission and the previous one, one following the other in the same orbit at less than one minute. The tandem phases have been implemented after the launch of each new altimetry reference mission: Topex-Poseidon and Jason-1 (2002), Jason-1 and Jason-2 (2008), Jason-2 and Jason-3 (2016), and Jason-3 and Sentinel-6A (2021–2022).
- Note that the term tandem phase may also have been used when Topex was on the inter-track of Jason-1, during the last phase of the Topex mission (from September 2022).
- Topex-Poseidon / Jason-1: 2002/01/15 (Jason-1’s first cycle) - 2002/08/15 (Jason-1 behind Topex (AC), 70s apart)
- Jason-1 / Jason-2: 2008/07/04 - 2009/01/26 (Jason-2 behind Jason-1, 55s apart)
- Jason-2 / Jason-3: 2016/02/12 - 2016/10/02 (Jason-3 behind Jason-2, 80s apart)
- Jason-3 / Sentinel-6A: 2020/12/18 – 2022/04/07 (Jason-3 ahead Sentinel-6A, 30 seconds apart)
- Jason-3 / Sentinel-6A: (2nd tandem phase) 2025/01/30 - 2025/06/02 (Sentinel-6A ahead Jason-3, 1 minute apart)
- Sentinel-3A / Sentinel-3B: 2018/06/07 – 2018/10/16 (Sentinel-3B ahead Sentinel-3A, 30 seconds apart)
- Note: all dates are YYYY/MM/DD
- Orbit changes
- Topex-Poseidon
- Launch: 1992/08/10
- Maneuver sequence: 1992/08/17 – 1992/09/21
- Reference orbit: 1992/09/21 – 2002/08/15
- Maneuver sequence: 2022/08/15-2002/09/16
- Interleaved orbit: 2002/09/16 – 2006/01/18
- End of science mission: 2005/10/09
- Satellite turned off: 2006/01/18
- Jason-1 (Poseidon-2)
- Launch: 2001/12/07
- Maneuver sequence: 2001/12/11 – 2001/12/20
- Reference orbit: 2001/12/20 – 2009/01/26
- Maneuver sequence: 2009/01/26 – 2009/02/14
- Interleaved orbit: 2009/02/15 – 2012/04/24
- Maneuver sequence: 2012/04/25 -2012/05/02
- Drifting geodetic orbit (406-day period; 1324km): 2012/05/03 – 2013/07/01
- End of science mission: 2013/06/21
- Satellite passivated and decommissioned: 2013/07/01
- Jason-2 (Poseidon-3)
- Launch: 2008/06/20
- Maneuver sequence: 2008/06/23 – 2008/07/04
- Reference orbit: 2008/07/04 – 2016/10/02
- Maneuver sequence: 2016/10/02 – 2016/10/13
- Interleaved orbit: 2016/10/13 - 2017/05/17
- Maneuver sequence: 2017/07/03 – 2017/07/10
- Long Repeat Orbit (LRO; 1309.5km): 2017/07/11 – 2018/07/16
- Maneuver sequence: 2018/07/16 – 201/07/18
- Interleaved Long Repeat Orbit (i-LRO; 1309km): 2018/07/19 – 2019/10/01
- End of mission: 2019/10/01
- Satellite passivated and decommissioned: 2019/10/10
- Jason-3 (Poseidon-3B)
- Launch: 2016/01/17
- Maneuver sequence: 2016/01/19– 2016/02/11
- Reference orbit: 2016/02/12 – 2022/04/07
- Maneuver sequence: 2022/04/07 – 2022/04/24
- Interleaved orbit: 2022/04/25 – 2025/01/07
- Maneuver sequence: 2025/01/07 – 2025/01/28
- Reference orbit: 2025/01/29 – 2025/06/02
- Maneuver sequence: 2025/06/02 – 2025/06/17
- Long Repeat Orbit (LRO): 2025/06/18 - today
- Swot (Poseidon-3C)
- Launch: 2022/12/16
- 1-day CalVal orbit (altitude 857 km): 2022/12/16 – 2023/07/10
- Maneuver sequence: 2023/07/11 – 2023/07/21
- 21-day Science orbit (altitude 890 km): 2023/07/21 – today
- SPOT-4
- Launch: 1998/03/24
- Nominal orbit: 1998/03/24 - 2009/12/08
- Maneuver sequence: 2009/12/08 and 2010/02/02 (altitude slightly increased then lowered to correct orbital drift from 70º (drifted situation) to 166º (nominal position) between SPOT-4 and SPOT-5)
- Nominal orbit: 2010/01/ - 2013/01/29 (end of trade mission on 2013/01/11)
- Maneuver sequence: 2013/01/29
- TAKE5 orbit (3 km lower orbit, 5-day repeat cycle): 2013/01/29 (start of TAKE5 mission on 2013/01/31) – 2013/06/19
- End of mission: 2013/06/29
- SPOT-5
- Launch: 2002/05/04
- Nominal orbit: 2002/05/04 - 2015/04/02 (end of trade mission on 2015/03/31)
- Maneuver sequence: 2015/04/02
- TAKE5 orbit (2.5 km lower orbit, 5-day repeat cycle): 2015/04/02 (start of TAKE5 mission on 2015/04/08) – 2015/12/01
- Desorbitation maneuver sequence: 2015/12/01 (start)
- End of mission: 2015/12/11
- Launch: 2002/03/01
- Initial orbit: 2002/03/04 - 2010/10/21
- Maneuver sequence: 2010/10/22 - 2010/10/26
- Extension orbit (17 km lower orbit): 2010/10/27 – 2012/05/09
- End of mission: 2012/05/09
- HY-2A
- Launch: 2011/08/15
- 14-day initial orbit (altitude 971 km): 2011/08/15 – 2016/03/23
- Maneuver sequence: 2016/03/23
- 168-day geodetic orbit (altitude 973 km): 2016/03/24 – 2020/09/14
- End of mission: 2020/09/14
- Saral
- Launch: 2013/02/25
- Initial orbit: 2013/02/25 - 2016/07/03
- Maneuver sequence: 2016/07/04
- Drifting phase (Saral-DP) (semi-major increased +1 km): 2016/07/04 – today
- Sentinel-3B
- Launch: 2018/04/25
- Initial Orbit (Sentinel-3B 30 seconds in front of Sentinel-3A): 2018/06/06 – 2018/10/16
- Maneuver sequence: 2018/10/16 – 2018/11/27
- Routine Orbit (Sentinel-3B 140 degrees in front of Sentinel-3A): 2018/11/27 – today
- Note: all dates are YYYY/MM/DD
