FOUR METHODS OF SOLVING FOR THE SPHERICAL ERROR PROBABLE ASSOCIATED WITH A THREE-DIMENSIONAL NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

When the predicted position of a satellite contains normally distributed errors, the position uncertainty can be described by a Spherical Error Probable or SEP. The SEP is calculated by integrating the three- dimensional normal probability density function over a spherical volume. The SEP is set equal to the radius of that volume which contains the satellite with 50% probability. In this report the authors present four methods for integrating the density function and finding the SEP. The three normal variates in the density function are assumed to be independent and unbiased with known variances.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0666646

Entities

People

  • Donald W. Dickinson
  • Richard J. Schulte

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Data Science
  • Mathematics
  • New Mexico
  • Normal Distribution
  • Probability
  • Probability Density Functions
  • Random Variables
  • Statistics
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Uncertainty
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Regression Analysis.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris