[IGLOSMAIL-190] Update on IGLOS Pilot Project Status

["Slater, James A. " <SlaterJ @ nima.mil>]

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IGLOS Electronic Mail      26 Jan 13:31:03 PST 2001   Message Number 190
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Author: Jim Slater

Dear IGLOS Participants and Users:

Since the end of the IGEX-98 campaign, approximately 30 tracking stations,
2-3 analysis centers and one global data center have continued to collect
GLONASS tracking data, compute precise orbits, and archive the data
products.  Although we issued the Call for Participation many months ago, we
have been delaying the official start of the pilot project for several
reasons.  The most significant factor was the uncertainty about the
continued health of the GLONASS constellation and its future.  The launch of
three new satellites in October and their placement into operational status
beginning in November have given us a sufficient number of healthy
satellites to work with.  We have also been trying to work out some
administrative problems within the IGS to make the GLONASS tracking stations
a part of the official IGS network rather than as a separate network with a
separate set of rules. This has required revisions to the IGS Site Log which
are now almost complete.  The analysis centers also want to include the
GLONASS observations as part of their routine GPS data processing and not
have to treat them in separate processes.  A number of problems detected
within RINEX file header record information for GLONASS sites must be fixed
as well.

We expect to send formal notification within the next few weeks to stations,
analysis centers, and data centers regarding their acceptance into the IGLOS
Pilot Project.  At that time, instructions will be provided for completing
and updating site log forms and for confirming your continued participation
and plans.  We expect 35-45 stations to comprise the IGLOS tracking network,
along with three analysis centers, and at least one global data center.
Combined orbits will be produced with an initial delay of 3-4 weeks.  Note
that between August and November 2000, 28 organizations (mostly from
Austria, Germany, Russia and the United States) retrieved GLONASS data
products from the CDDIS Global Data Center.  We hope that the atmospheric,
meteorology and timing communities and others can use the products when the
project becomes truly operational.

Thank you for your continuing support. 

Jim Slater
Chair, IGLOS Pilot Project Committee
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JIM SLATER        (301)227-4549      Fax: (301)227-4749     E-mail:
slaterj @ nima.mil
NIMA, GICS, MS D-68, 4600 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda, MD 20816-5003, U.S.A.