Journal Home > Volume 2 , Issue 3

This research furthers the development of a closed-form solution to the angles-only initial relative orbit determination problem for non-cooperative target close-in proximity operations when the camera offset from the vehicle center-of-mass allows for range observability. In previous work, the solution to this problem had been shown to be non-global optimal in the sense of least square and had only been discussed in the context of Clohessy-Wiltshire. In this paper, the emphasis is placed on developing a more compact and improved solution to the problem by using state augmentation least square method in the context of the Clohessy-Wiltshire and Tschauner-Hempel dynamics, derivation of corresponding error covariance, and performance analysis for typical rendezvous missions. A two-body Monte Carlo simulation system is used to evaluate the performance of the solution. The sensitivity of the solution accuracy to camera offset, observation period, and the number of observations are presented and discussed.


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
About this article

Angles-only initial relative orbit determination algorithm for non-cooperative spacecraft proximity operations

Show Author's information Baichun Gong1Wendan Li1Shuang Li1( )Weihua Ma2Lili Zheng3
Advanced Space Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing210016, China
National Key Laboratory of Aerospace Flight Dynamics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Beijing Institute of Aerospace System Engineering, Beijing 100076, China

Abstract

This research furthers the development of a closed-form solution to the angles-only initial relative orbit determination problem for non-cooperative target close-in proximity operations when the camera offset from the vehicle center-of-mass allows for range observability. In previous work, the solution to this problem had been shown to be non-global optimal in the sense of least square and had only been discussed in the context of Clohessy-Wiltshire. In this paper, the emphasis is placed on developing a more compact and improved solution to the problem by using state augmentation least square method in the context of the Clohessy-Wiltshire and Tschauner-Hempel dynamics, derivation of corresponding error covariance, and performance analysis for typical rendezvous missions. A two-body Monte Carlo simulation system is used to evaluate the performance of the solution. The sensitivity of the solution accuracy to camera offset, observation period, and the number of observations are presented and discussed.

Keywords: initial relative orbit determination, angles-only navigation, proximity operations, rendezvous

References(29)

[1]
Gaias, G., D’Amico, S., Ardaens, J. S. Angles-only navigation to a non-cooperative satellite using relative orbital elements. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2014, 37(2): 439-451.
[2]
D’Amico, S., Ardaens, J., Gaias, G., Benninghoff, H., Schlepp, B., Jorgensen, J.L. Noncooperative rendezvous using angles-only optical navigation: system design and fight results. Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 2013, 36(6): 1576-1595.
[3]
Eberle, S., Ohndorf, A., Faller, R. On-orbit servicing mission operations at GSOC. In: Proceedings of the SpaceOps 2010 Conference, 2010: AIAA 2010-1975.
DOI
[4]
Barnhart, D., Sullivan, B.,Hunter, R., Bruhn, J., Lowler, E., Hoag, L. Phoenix project status 2013. In: Proceedings of the AIAA SPACE 2013 Conference and Exposition, 2013.
DOI
[5]
Woffinden, D., Geller, D. Observability criteria for angles-only navigation. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2009, 45(3): 1194-1208.
[6]
Woffinden, D., Geller, D. Optimal orbital rendezvous maneuvering for angles-only navigation. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2009, 32(4): 1382-1387.
[7]
Li, J. R., Li, H. Y., Tang, G. J., Luo, Y. Z. Research on the strategy of angles-only relative navigation for autonomous rendezvous. Science China Technological Sciences, 2011, 54(7): 1865-1872.
[8]
Grzymisch, J., Ficher, W. Observability criteria and unobservable maneuvers for in-orbit bearings-only navigation. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2014, 37(4): 1250-1259.
[9]
Luo, J., Gong, B., Yuan, J., Zhang, Z. Angles-only relative navigation and closed-loop guidance for spacecraft proximity operations. Acta Astronautica, 2016, 128: 91-106.
[10]
Jagat, A., Sinclair, A. Control of spacecraft relative motion using angles-only navigation. In: Proceedings of the AAS/AIAA Space Flight Machanics Meeting, 2015.
[11]
Newman, B., Lovell, A., Pratt, E. Second order nonlinear initial orbit determination for relative motion using volterra theory. Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, 2014, 152:1253-1272.
[12]
Newman, B., Lovell, A., Pratt, E., Duncan, E. Quadratic hexa-dimensional solution for relative orbit determination. In: Proceedings of the AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2014.
DOI
[13]
Sullivan, J., Koenig, A., D’Amico, S. Improved maneuver-free approach to angles-only navigation for space rendezvous. In: AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, 2016.
[14]
Gasbarri, P., Sabatini, M., Palmerini, G. B. Ground tests for vision based determination and control of formation flying spacecraft trajectories. Acta Astronautica, 2014, 102: 378-391.
[15]
Chen, T., Xu, S. Double line-of-sight measuring relative navigation for spacecraft autonomous rendezvous. Acta Astronautica, 2010, 67: 122-134.
[16]
Gao, X. H., Liang, B., Pan, L.,and Du, X. D. Distributed relative navigation of GEO non-cooperative target based on multiple line-of-sight measurements. Journal of Astronautics, 2015, 36(3): 292-299.
[17]
Klein, I., Geller, D. Zero Δv solution to the angles-only range observability problem during orbital proximity operations. Advances in Estimation, Navigation, and Spacecraft Control, 2012, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015: 351-369..
[18]
Geller, D., Klein, I. Angles-only navigation state observability during orbital proximity operations. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2014, 37(6): 1976-1983.
[19]
Geller D,, Perez A. Initial relative orbit determination for close-in proximity operations. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2015, 38(9): 1833-1842.
[20]
Gong, B., Geller, D., Luo, J. Initial relative orbit determination analytical covariance and performance analysis for proximity operations. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2016, 53(5): 822-835.
[21]
Tschauner, J., Hempel, P. Rendezvous zu einem in elliptischer bahn umlaufenden ziel. Astronautica Acta, 1965, 11(2): 104-109.
[22]
Yamanaka, K., Ankersen, F. New state transition matrix for relative motion on an arbitrary elliptical orbit. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 2002, 25(1): 60-66.
[23]
Clohessy, W. H., Wiltshire, R. S. Terminal guidance system for satellite rendezvous. Journal of the Aero/Space Sciences, 1960, 27(9): 653-658.
[24]
Kaplan, M. H. Modern spacecraft dynamics and control. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York 1976: 343-370.
[25]
Woffinden, D. C. Angles-only navigation for autonomous orbital rendezvous. Ph.D. Dissertation. Utah State University, 2008.
DOI
[26]
Buckland, S. T. Monte Carlo confidence intervals. Biometrics, 1984, 40(3): 811-817.
[27]
Reali, F., Palmerini, G. Estimate problems for satellite clusters. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2008.
DOI
[28]
Sengupta, P., Vadali, S.,, Alfriend, K. Second-order state transition for relative motion near perturbed, elliptic orbits. Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, 2007, 97(2): 101-129.
[29]
Carter, T., Humi, M. Clohessy-Wiltshire Equations Modified to Include Quadratic Drag. Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, 2002, 25(6): 1058-1065.
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 20 November 2017
Accepted: 28 January 2018
Published: 05 May 2018
Issue date: September 2018

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2018

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Dr. David Geller from Utah State University for his great help in making this work possible. And this work is supported in part by the National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents (No. BX201700304), the Foundation of Science and Technology on Aerospace Flight Dynamics Laboratory (No. 61422100306707).

Return