ORBIT DETERMINATION OF A NON-TRANSMITTING SATELLITE USING DOPPLER TRACKING DATA

Abstract

A method is presented for predicting the orbit of a passive (non- transmitting) satellite, using exclusively Doppler data collected during one passage of the satellite by a tracking system consisting of only one transmitter and one receiver. Equations are derived which relate passive satellite Doppler tracking data to range, speed and time parameters at closest approach. These determine an ellipsoid whose foci are the transmitter and receiver stations. The satellite lies on this ellipsoid, and its trajectory is tangent to the surface. The satellite position and velocity components at closest approach are calculated on a digital computer using information contained in the Doppler data together with the geometry of the tracking system. Preliminary orbits determined in this way agree favorably with the refined orbits of BRL and Space Track.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1960
Accession Number
AD0419890

Entities

People

  • Paul B. Richards

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Base Lines
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Digital Computers
  • Ellipsoids
  • Equations
  • Frequency Shift
  • Geometry
  • Orbits
  • Space Sciences
  • Spacecraft
  • Time Intervals
  • Trajectories
  • Transmitters
  • Transmitting
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Control Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris