Autonomous navigation using landmark and intersatellite data
Abstract
An autonomous navigation system employing three-axis gyros, an earth sensor, sun sensors, and intersatellite range and angle data for attitude and orbit estimation is investigated via covariance analysis. Of primary interest is the ability of the system to determine the location in earth-fixed coordinates of features of interest observed by the earth sensor, i.e., the geopositioning accuracy. Known landmarks observed by the earth sensor are excellent references for geopositioning since they provide both orbit and attitude information and also avoid problems arising from dynamic misalignments between this primary sensor and the secondary attitude sensors. The addition of intersatellite data significantly reduces the root-sum-square satellite position estimation error, but provides only a modest improvement in geopositioning accuracy.
- Publication:
-
Astrodynamics 1983
- Pub Date:
- August 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984asdy.confR....M
- Keywords:
-
- Autonomous Navigation;
- Autonomy;
- Landmarks;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Satellite Attitude Control;
- Satellite Navigation Systems;
- Space Navigation;
- Accuracy;
- Covariance;
- Error Correcting Codes;
- Gyroscopes;
- Kalman Filters;
- Mathematical Models;
- Performance Prediction;
- Three Axis Stabilization;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking