TOPEX/POSEIDON orbit maintenance maneuver design
Abstract
The Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX/POSEIDON) mission orbit requirements are outlined, as well as its control and maneuver spacing requirements including longitude and time targeting. A ground-track prediction model dealing with geopotential, luni-solar gravity, and atmospheric-drag perturbations is considered. Targeting with all modeled perturbations is discussed, and such ground-track prediction errors as initial semimajor axis, orbit-determination, maneuver-execution, and atmospheric-density modeling errors are assessed. A longitude targeting strategy for two extreme situations is investigated employing all modeled perturbations and prediction errors. It is concluded that atmospheric-drag modeling errors are the prevailing ground-track prediction error source early in the mission during high solar flux, and that low solar-flux levels expected late in the experiment stipulate smaller maneuver magnitudes.
- Publication:
-
Astrodynamics 1989
- Pub Date:
- 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990asdy.conf..645B
- Keywords:
-
- Orbital Maneuvers;
- Poseidon Satellite;
- Topex;
- Satellite Control;
- Stationkeeping;
- Astrodynamics