Determination of Earth Satellite Orbits

Abstract

The formulas used in a computer program to fit earth satellite orbits to data are documented. The areas covered are (1) iterative method of determining maximum likelihood parameter estimates; (2) units are coordinate systems; (3) motion of the earth about its center of mass; (4) equations for earth satellite motion and partial derivatives of this motion with respect to parameters; (5) theoretical values and partial derivatives of theoretical values of ground based (radar or radio transponder, look angles, long baseline interferometer) and satellite based (radar, look angles) observables; and (6) numerical techniques such as numerical integration, polynomial interpolation and matrix inversion. Observations of the sun, moon, planets and stars are also discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 19, 1972
Accession Number
AD0742301

Entities

People

  • Michael E. Ash

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Attitude Control Systems
  • Cartesian Coordinates
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Equations
  • General Relativity
  • Measurement
  • Numerical Integration
  • Observatories
  • Orbits
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Spacecraft
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Statistical inference.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Space Objects