Analysis of ambiguous orbits for elliptic chief relative orbit estimation with range-only measurements

Jingwei Wang, Eric A. Butcher, T. Alan Lovell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ambiguous spacecraft relative orbits based on linear dynamics and elliptic chief orbit are studied for the purpose of sequential relative orbit estimation with range-only measurements. Using a geometric solution of the Tschauner-Hempel equation, mirror ambiguous orbits, which conserve the shape and size of the true relative orbit, are proven to exist. However, deformed ambiguous orbits, which distort the shape and size of the true relative orbit are shown to vanish due to the non-zero chief orbit eccentricity although they persist in Kaiman filtering simulations. This persistent phenomenon is explained through a perturbation analysis using variation of the geometric ambiguous states. Furthermore, it is shown that the inclusion of chief orbit eccentricity and nonlinearities in the filter model can help resist the tendency of an extended Kaiman filter to converge to the ambiguous orbits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2016
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624104459
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
EventAIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2016 - Long Beach, United States
Duration: Sep 13 2016Sep 16 2016

Publication series

NameAIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2016

Other

OtherAIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLong Beach
Period9/13/169/16/16

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Aerospace Engineering

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