Subject: orbitNp.py 1.3 release From: Matthew Wilkinson Author: Matthew Wilkinson Subject: orbitNp.py 1.3 release Dear colleagues A new version 1.3 of the normal point, orbit correction software orbitNP.py is now available to download from http://sgf.rgo.ac.uk/qualityc/orbitNP.html orbitNp.py is written in Python3 to process SLR observations. It originates from FORTRAN code developed at the Space Geodesy Facility, Herstmonceux, UK, http://sgf.rgo.ac.uk. It can take SLR epochs and 2-way ranges recorded at any station for any satellite and calculates time bias and radial corrections to a CPF prediction using least squares to produce flattened range residuals. These residuals can then be clipped and used to form precise ILRS normal points. The epochs and ranges can be supplied as raw selected data with a small range residual window of surrounding noise. Stations can compare the orbitNP.py results with the normal points generated by their post-processing software. System delay from calibration and local meteorological data must also be provided. Alternatively, orbitNP.py can be used to look in detail at a series of individual passes submitted by a station to the ILRS Data Centers and made available in large daily or monthly satellite CRD files. The software can automatically fetch the required CPF predictions and can now also fetch requested CRD data files. The program can output: * Normal points in CRD format * Full-rate data in CRD format. This can include surrounding data not used in the normal point calculation, indicated using the filter flag. * Range residuals with epochs * Orbit correction parameters from the solution * Clipping points The update includes and option to clip GNSS range residuals relatively according to the incident angle of the laser beam to the flat retro-reflector array. This results in wider clipping at lower elevations. Updates: Version 1.3 * Include CDDIS as a source for automatic CPF predictions and CRD downloads. EARTHDATA login details requested and stored locally in .earthdatalogin file. * Attempt to download fr2 full-rate file from Data Center if does not exist on drive. * Downloads CDDIS full-rate data files that are gzipped. * Clipping varies depending on the incident angle for GNSS flat LRA. This results in relatively wider acceptance at low elevations. * Jpeg output option. * Read and output receive amplitude records. * Allow dynamic axes labelling for matplotlib plots. * Specify output folder name to save plots. The orbitNP.py software is available open-source, `as is` under a BSD 3-Clause License and with this disclaimer. Please feel free to send me any feedback or suggest ideas on how to develop this code. With regards Matthew Wilkinson -- SGF, Herstmonceux http://sgf.rgo.ac.uk This email and any attachments are intended solely for the use of the named recipients. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this email or any of its attachments and should notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise risk of this email or any attachments containing viruses or malware but the recipient should carry out its own virus and malware checks before opening the attachments. UKRI does not accept any liability for any losses or damages which the recipient may sustain due to presence of any viruses.