Towards Optimization and Assessment of the Chinese New-generation VLBI Network for Earth Orientation Parameters Monitoring

Abstract The Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) provide a time-varying transition relationship between the International Terrestrial Reference Frame and the International Celestial Reference Frame. To support deep space exploration and the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, the Chinese New-generation Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (CNVN) is under construction for independent monitoring of the EOP. This paper evaluates the performance of existing 4-antenna CNVN through a batch generated observation schedules followed by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. The optimal positions of the fifth and sixth antennas of CNVN are found from 24 hypothetical antenna positions uniformly distributed in China. In this process, the weighted parameters are optimized, which not only reduce the possibility of large error of EOP estimation accuracy due to unreasonable combination, but also greatly reduce the calculation cost.