Multiple Satellite Orbit Determination for Neighboring Satellites

Abstract

If satellites follow orbit paths within one hundred kilometers of each other, (i) The simultaneous processing of orbital data using a multiple satellite orbit determination method produces ephemerides for the satellites with an accuracy consistent with individually determined orbits. However this method predicts the relative separation of the satellites more accurately in the presence of modeling errors. (ii) The use of perturbation solutions from the integration of one satellite's variational equations to process the other satellite's tracking data introduces a small additional error into orbit solutions. But such a procedure can substantially reduce computation time required to compute the orbits of the satellites. Based on this analysis it is recommended that a multiple satellite data processing scheme be adopted for satellites in neighboring orbits.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA010129

Entities

People

  • Patrick J. Fell

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Circular Orbits
  • Classification
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Data Processing
  • Ephemerides
  • Equations
  • Least Squares Method
  • Numerical Integration
  • Orbits
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Security
  • Stations
  • Tracking Stations
  • Trajectories
  • Variational Equations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Applied Combinatorial Optimization and Logic Circuit Design.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites