Accession Number:

ADA230683

Title:

Autonomous Navigation of a Satellite Cluster

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Johnston, Stephen C.

Report Date:

1990-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

69.0

Abstract:

The relative position determination of a cluster of satellites operating in a low earth orbit is investigated. A U-D Covariance Factorization Kalman Filter is used for the on-board estimator with dynamics based on the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations. Measurements consist of range data between a single host satellite and the remaining cluster. Therefore only relative position and velocity states with respect to the host satellite can be determined. A 15 sample Monte Carlo simulation was conducted with clusters of 2, 5, and 10 satellites, respectively. Performance results consists of average error, average true error and filter covariance as a function of time.

Descriptors:

• *SIMULATION
• EARTH ORBITS
• LOW ORBIT TRAJECTORIES
• DYNAMICS
• MONTE CARLO METHOD
• ONBOARD
• CLUSTERING
• ERRORS
• ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
• AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION
• FILTERS
• COVARIANCE
• POSITION(LOCATION)
• ESTIMATES

Subject Categories:

• Space Navigation and Guidance
• Spacecraft Trajectories and Reentry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE