VLBI with GNSS signals on intercontinental baselines

Abstract

The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) is constructed based on analysis results of several space geodetic techniques, among them geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The meaningful combination of the different techniques requires possibilities to link the various instruments and their reference points. So-called co-location stations that are equipped with instrumentation for several techniques play an important role for the ITRF combination since so-called local-tie vectors on the ground enable the connection between the various instruments. Since several years, ideas have been discussed to include additional possibilities to link the different techniques, with the main goal to improve the ITRF. One of these ideas is to use GNSS signals for VLBI observations and by this improve the link between VLBI and GNSS. In our presentations we describe so-called GNSS-VLBI experiments performed in 2017 with VLBI stations at intercontinental distances. The observations, data correlation and data analysis is described and initial results are presented