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Willy Bertiger

Researcher

About

Bio

Dr. Willy Bertiger, as a member of the Orbiter and Radio Metric Systems Group, has pioneered many applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to science and technology. He was one of the key members of the group that demonstrated precise positioning of a low earth orbiter using GPS data on the Topex/Poseidon spacecraft. Use of GPS has now become essential in ocean altimetry missions. A follow on mission to Topex, JASON, uses GPS data, and the systems Dr. Bertiger has contributed to position the spacecraft with a radial accuracy of less than one cm. In addition, to precise positioning, Dr. Bertiger has contributed to the use of GPS in atmospheric occultation measurements, precise time transfer, and measurement of the Earth's mass distribution and time variability.

Education

  • Ph.D., Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, 1976

Research Interests

  • GPS/radiometric signal modeling and data processing
  • Precision Orbit Determination for Earth orbiting satellites
  • Geodesy
  • Time transfer using GPS
  • Remote sensing using radiometric signals
  • Gravity field determination

Experience

Professional Experience

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory: February 1986 to present
  • Chevron Oil Field Research Company: 1981-1986
  • Texas A&M University: 1976-1981, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

Publications

  1. Dunn, C. W. Bertiger, Y. Bar-Sever, S. Bettadpur, S. Desai, G. Franklin, B. Haines, G. Kruizinga, D. Kuang, T. Meehan, S. Nandi, D. Nguyen, T. Rogstad, L. Romans, J. thomas, J. Tien, M. Watkins, and S. Wu, "Instrument of Grace, GPS Augments Gravity Measurements," GPS World, 14(2), 16-28, 2003.
  2. Willis, P.; Haines, B.; Bar-Sever, Y.; Bertiger, W., Muellerschoen, R.; Kuang, D. "Topex/jason combined gps/doris orbit determination in the tandem phase," Advanced Space Research, Vol. 31, No. 8, pp. 1941-1946, 2003.
  3. W. I. Bertiger, Y. E. Bar-Sever, B. J. Haines, B. A. Iijima, S. M. Lichten, U. J. Lindqwister, A. J. Mannucci, R. J. Muellerschoen, T. N. Munson, A. W. Moore, L. J. Romans, B. D. Wilson, S. C. Wu, T. P. Yunck, G. Piesinger, and M. Whitehead, "A Real-Time Wide Area Differential GPS System," Navigation: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Vol. 44, No. 4, 1998, pgs. 433-447.
  4. E. R. Kursinski, G. A. Hajj, W. I. Bertiger, S. S. Leroy, T. K. Meehan, L. R. Romans, J. T. Schofield, D. J. McCleese, W. G. Melbourne, C. L. Thornton, T. P. Yunck, J. R. Eyre, and R. N. Nagatani, "Initial Results of Radio Occultation Observations of Earth’s Atmosphere using GPS," Science, 271, 1107-1110, 1996.
  5. Bertiger, Willy, and Thoms P. Yunck, Kenn Gold, Joseph Guinn, Angie Reichert, and Michael Watkins, "High Precision and Real Time Tracking of Low Earth Orbiters with GPS: Case Studies with TOPEX/POSEIDON and EUVE," Invited Talk, Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on High Precision Navigation, Stuttgart, Germany, pgs. 97-107, April 3-5, 1995.
  6. Zumberge, J. F., and W. I. Bertiger, Vol. 1, Chapter 16, The Global Positioning System – Theory and Application, Senior Editors: B. W. Parkinson, J. J. Spilker, Jr.; Editors: P. Axelrad, P. Enge., AIAA, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Volume 163, pgs. 585-598,1996.
  7. Bertiger, W. I., Y. E. Bar-Sever, E. J. Christensen, E. S. Davis, J. R. Guinn, B. J. Haines, R. W. Ibanez-Meier, J. R. Jee, S. M. Lichten, W. G. Melbourne, R. J. Muellerschoen, T. N. Munson, Y. Vigue, S. C. Wu, and T. P. Yunck, B. E. Schutz, P. A. M. Abusali, H. J. Rim, M. M. Watkins, and P. Willis, "GPS Precise Tracking Of Topex/Poseidon: Results and Implications," JGR Oceans Topex/Poseidon Special Issue, vol. 99, no. C12, pg. 24,449-24,464 Dec. 15, 1994.