Comparison of Orbit Propagators in the Research and Development Goddard Trajectory Determination System (R & D GTDS). Part 1. Simulated Data

Abstract

This paper evaluates the performance of various orbit propagation theories for artificial earth satellites in different orbital regimes. Specifically, R&D GTDS's Cowell (numerical technique), DSST (semianalytical technique), SGP, SGP4, and Brouwer-Lyddane (analytic techniques) orbit propagators are compared for decaying circular (approx. 200 km perigee height), low altitude circular (590 km perigee height), high altitude circular (1340 km perigee height), Molniya, and geosynchronous orbits. All test cases implement a one orbital period differential correction fit to simulated data derived from a Cowell truth trajectory. These fits are followed by a one orbital period predict with the DC solve-for vector.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 20, 1995
Accession Number
ADA531055

Entities

People

  • Beny Neta
  • Chris Sabol
  • D. A. Danielson
  • Daniel J. Fonte Jr.
  • W. R. Dyar

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Circular Orbits
  • Databases
  • Ephemerides
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Fourier Series
  • Frequency
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • High Altitude
  • Low Altitude
  • Mathematics
  • Orbits
  • Solar Radiation
  • Spacecraft
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris