Dr Thomas Loudis Papanikolaou

Senior Research Associate

School of Engineering

Email:thomas.papanikolaou@newcastle.edu.au

Career Summary

Biography

Geodetic scientist specialising in space geodesy and astrodynamics, Thomas’s work focuses on precise orbit determination and gravity field modelling. His expertise also includes the orbital dynamics of Low Earth Orbiters (LEOs), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and the analysis of satellite gravity mission data for Earth system science and gravitational field investigations.

Thomas has led research projects and contributed to space programmes across Australia and Europe. Currently, he works on emerging concepts for future space gravity missions and orbiters data exploitation including LEOs and Space Debris. His work contributes to advancing research in Earth system science, climate studies, and space situational awareness.

Thomas is the creator of GEORB (Gravity and precisE ORBit determination system), an open-source scientific software for precise orbit determination, gravity field recovery and mission design. GEORB specialises in the analysis of satellite gravity missions and simulation of future gravity missions, supporting missions such as the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) missions by NASA/GFZ and contributing to the upcoming ESA/NASA Mass-Change and Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC) mission.

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF RURAL AND SURVEYING ENGINEERS, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Keywords

Astrodynamics
GNSS
Geodesy
Gravity
Orbital Mechanics
Precise Orbit Determination
Satellite gravity missions

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
370603	Geodesy	40
379901	Earth system sciences	20
510901	Astrodynamics and space situational awareness	40

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title	Organisation / Department
Senior Research Associate	University of Newcastle School of Engineering Australia

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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Conference (5 outputs)

Year

Citation

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2022

Papanikolaou T, 'Precise orbit determination and accelerometer data modelling of the GRACE Follow-On mission' (2022)

DOI	10.5194/gstm2022-90

2020

Han S-C, Ghobadi-Far K, Ray R, Papanikolaou T, 'Tidal geopotential dependence on Earth ellipticity and seawater density and its detection with the GRACE Follow-On laser ranging interferometer' (2020)

DOI	10.5194/gstm2020-59

2019

Loudis Papanikolaou T, Tseng T, Moore M, 'Impact of empirical parameters on precise orbit determination and prediction of GNSS satellites', Vienna, Austria (2019)

2016

Loudis Papanikolaou T, Melachroinos S, 'Quantifying mis-modelling effects in the GNSS yaw-attitude and phase wind-up', Colombo Theatres, Kensington Campus, UNSW Australia (2016)

2012

Tsoulis D, Papanikolaou TD, 'Numerical Investigation of Different Gravity Models in Orbit Propagation of Two Short CHAMP and GRACE-A Arcs', VII HOTINE-MARUSSI SYMPOSIUM ON MATHEMATICAL GEODESY, ITALY, Sapienza Univ Rome, Fac Engn, Rome (2012)

DOI	10.1007/978-3-642-22078-4_42
Citations	Scopus - 2Web of Science - 1

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Dataset (2 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics	Link
2023	Loudis Papanikolaou T, 'Precise orbit data and Gravity field models for GRACE Follow-On mission', . VBN (2023)
2023	Loudis Papanikolaou T, 'DORUS time-variable gravity field models', . VBN (2023)

Journal article (8 outputs)

Year

Citation

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2023

Papanikolaou TL, 'GEORB: Release for precise orbit determination of low Earth orbiters and satellite gravity missions', SOFTWARE IMPACTS, 16 (2023) [C1]

DOI	10.1016/j.simpa.2023.100502

2020

Han SC, Ghobadi-Far K, Ray RD, Papanikolaou T, 'Tidal geopotential dependence on Earth ellipticity and seawater density and its detection with the GRACE Follow-On laser ranging interferometer', Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125 (2020) [C1]

DOI	10.1029/2020jc016774
Citations	Scopus - 6Web of Science - 4
Co-authors	Shin-Chan Han

2018

Papanikolaou TD, Tsoulis D, 'Assessment of earth gravity field models in the medium to high frequency spectrum based on GRACE and GOCE dynamic orbit analysis', Geosciences Switzerland, 8 (2018)

DOI	10.3390/geosciences8120441
Citations	Scopus - 5

2016

Papanikolaou TD, Tsoulis D, 'Assessment of numerical integration methods in the context of low Earth orbits and inter-satellite observation analysis', ACTA GEODAETICA ET GEOPHYSICA, 51, 619-641 (2016)

DOI	10.1007/s40328-016-0159-3
Citations	Scopus - 1Web of Science - 11

2015

Papanikolaou TD, Papadopoulos N, 'High-frequency analysis of Earth gravity field models based on terrestrial gravity and GPS/levelling data: A case study in Greece', Journal of Geodetic Science, 5 67-79 (2015)

The present study aims at the validation of global gravity field models through numerical investigation in gravity field functionals based on spherical harmonic synthes... [more]

The present study aims at the validation of global gravity field models through numerical investigation in gravity field functionals based on spherical harmonic synthesis of the geopotential models and the analysis of terrestrial data. We examine gravity models produced according to the latest approaches for gravity field recovery based on the principles of the Gravity field and steadystate Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) and Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite missions. Furthermore, we evaluate the overall spectrum of the ultra-high degree combined gravity models EGM2008 and EIGEN-6C3stat. The terrestrial data consist of gravity and collocated GPS/levelling data in the overall Hellenic region. The software presented here implements the algorithm of spherical harmonic synthesis in a degree-wise cumulative sense. This approach may quantify the bandlimited performance of the individual models by monitoring the degree-wise computed functionals against the terrestrial data. The degree-wise analysis performed yields insight in the short-wavelengths of the Earth gravity field as these are expressed by the high degree harmonics.

DOI	10.1515/jogs-2015-0008
Citations	Scopus - 3

2014

Papanikolaou TD, Tsoulis D, 'Dynamic orbit parameterization and assessment in the frame of current GOCE gravity models', PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS, 236 1-9 (2014)

DOI	10.1016/j.pepi.2014.08.003
Citations	Scopus - 6Web of Science - 6

2013

Tsoulis D, Papanikolaou T, 'Degree-wise validation of satellite-only and combined Earth gravity models in the frame of an orbit propagation scheme applied to a short GOCE arc', ACTA GEODAETICA ET GEOPHYSICA, 48, 305-316 (2013)

DOI	10.1007/s40328-013-0020-x
Citations	Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4

2012

Tsoulis D, Venesis C, 'On the computation of crustal induced gravity signal at a typical low Earth orbiter altitude', Journal of Geodetic Science, 2 240-246 (2012)

DOI	10.2478/v10156-011-0045-4

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Presentation (1 outputs)

Year

Citation

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2025

Loudis Papanikolaou T, 'Precise orbit determination and gravity recovery for GRACE-FO and future gravity missions' (2025)

DOI	10.13140/RG.2.2.33253.87528

Thesis / Dissertation (1 outputs)

Year

Citation

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2012

Loudis Papanikolaou T, Dynamic modelling of satellite orbits in the frame of contemporary satellite geodesy missions, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2012)

DOI	10.12681/eadd/29364

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Research Collaborations

The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.

	Country	Count of Publications
	Greece	6
	Australia	2
	Denmark	1
	United States	1

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