Autonomous Navigation of a Satellite Cluster

Abstract

The relative position determination of a cluster of satellites operating in a low earth orbit is investigated. A U-D Covariance Factorization Kalman Filter is used for the on-board estimator with dynamics based on the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations. Measurements consist of range data between a single host satellite and the remaining cluster. Therefore only relative position and velocity states with respect to the host satellite can be determined. A 15 sample Monte Carlo simulation was conducted with clusters of 2, 5, and 10 satellites, respectively. Performance results consists of average error, average true error and filter covariance as a function of time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA230683

Entities

People

  • Stephen C. Johnston

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Autonomous Navigation
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Earth Orbits
  • Equations
  • Estimators
  • Kalman Filters
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Navigation
  • Orbits
  • Recursive Filters
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Simulations

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris