Preliminary Analysis of Jitter Detection and Causes on the Ziyuan3 (ZY3) Satellite Series Platforms

Jitter is a critical factor affecting the geometric accuracy of Earth observation satellites. After a satellite is launched, it is essential to detect and mitigate platform jitter to minimize its impact. The Ziyuan-3 (ZY3) series, China’s first civilian stereo mapping satellite constellation, meets the 1:50000 scale mapping accuracy requirement without ground control points. Detecting and suppressing jitter during the satellite’s orbit is a key technology for ensuring mapping accuracy. This letter investigates the causes of platform jitter across three satellites in the ZY3 series by analyzing gyroscope data using fast Fourier transform (FFT) at different stages of the satellite lifecycle. It compares the frequency and amplitude of jitter across different platforms and time periods. The results show that ZY3-01 and ZY3-02 exhibit consistent jitter patterns. They have significant amplitude in the 0.6 Hz region early in orbit and less later on, correlating with the satellites’ lifespans. In contrast, the 0.2 Hz region remains relatively stable. The ZY3-03 satellite, equipped with a highly stable platform, shows no significant jitter, evidencing the effectiveness of such platforms in jitter suppression.