On-Orbit Estimation of Spacecraft Mass Properties

Abstract

Timely, accurate, and precise estimation of spacecraft mass properties, such as the inertia tensor, using onboard measurement data is key to enabling precision attitude control and understanding the configuration of a vehicle on-orbit. Estimating the inertia tensor, however, is complicated by the constraints required to produce a valid representation of the mass distribution. Effective estimation is also facilitated by appropriate control inputs, a topic that is elucidated through observability analysis. This work investigates observability analysis to optimize the observability of the inertia tensor and proposes, develops, and analyzes estimation approaches that satisfy the requisite inequality constraints of the inertia tensor.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2022
Accession Number
AD1201400

Entities

People

  • J. C. Helmuth
  • Kyle. J. Demars

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Computational Complexity
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programs
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Estimators
  • Filtration
  • Governments
  • Inertial Measurement Units
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Kalman Filtering
  • Kalman Filters
  • Linear Systems
  • Mathematical Filters
  • Moment Of Inertia
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Nonlinear Systems
  • Sequential Monte Carlo Methods
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers