Refinement and Validation of Radiation Pressure Models for High Area-To-Mass Ratio Space Objects for Improved Characterization, Tracking, and Orbit Prediction
Abstract
The proposed research aims to develop methods to improve detection, tracking, identification, andcharacterization (detect/track/ID/characterize) of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in the GEOregime. This research will focus on a class of RSOs known as High Area-To-Mass Ratio (HAMR)objects. Current state of the art in detecting, tracking, identifying, and characterizing HAMRobjects is limited due to the dynamic mismodelling of non-gravitational forces acting on theseobjects. The proposed research shall aim to enhance the physical models that govern the behaviorof HAMR objects, specifically the acceleration due to solar and Earth albedo, solar and Earthradiation, and possibly electrostatic charging effects (Lorentz force). Refined models will then beused to estimate features such as mass, shape, and albedo-area of HAMR objects, in an aim tocharacterize them with higher confidence levels. To validate the refined physical models andcharacteristics of HAMR objects, and show improvements in tracking and prediction accuracies,novel filtering techniques shall be employed to estimate the long-term dynamics and trajectoriesof these objects. In essence, every trajectory can be interpreted as a signal encoded withinformation of all perturbing effects. The goal of model validation will be to extract the relevantperturbations from the trajectory signal and do so in a way that can be used to improve trajectorypredictions. To augment the validation, we will assess how well we can predict the flux reflectedfrom the object as compared to measured fluxes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 30, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810351
Entities
People
- Moriba Jah
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Austin