ICBM TRAJECTORY DETERMINATION FROM OBSERVATIONS WITH ERRORS,

Abstract

By classical methods it is possible, at least in theory, to determine the trajectory of an object moving in a central gravitational field by passive observations of angular position. This method of trajectory determination was worked out and programmed for the case of observations made from a rotating earth. A computer program was developed for the calculation of observations of angular position and rate of change of range. Normally distributed errors were added to the computed observations in such a way that stochastically independent trajectory determinations could be made under the same circumstances. This resulted in a simulation of the operation of observing and determining the trajectory. Examples were computed to display the effect of observation errors on impact point determination.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1960
Accession Number
AD0607375

Entities

People

  • James T. Morse

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Gravitational Fields
  • Impact Point
  • Observation
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Statistical inference.