Spacecraft Position Estimation and Attitude Determination using Terrestrial Illumination Matching

Abstract

An algorithm to conduct spacecraft position estimation and attitude determination via terrestrial illumination matching (TIM) is presented consisting of a novel method that uses terrestrial lights as a surrogate for star fields. Although star sensors represent a highly accurate means of attitude determination with considerable spaceflight heritage, with Global Positioning System (GPS) providing position, TIM provides a potentially viable alternative in the event of star sensor or GPS malfunction or performance degradation. The research defines a catalog of terrestrial light constellations, which are then implemented within the TIM algorithm for position acquisition of a generic spacecraft bus.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 26, 2020
Accession Number
AD1101533

Entities

People

  • Liberty M Shockley

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Computer Vision
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Geography
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Image Processing
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Kalman Filters
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • Spacecraft
  • World Geodetic System

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers