An Efficient and Precise Method for Calculating the Dense Ephemeris of High Eccentricity Orbit

Detection and cataloguing of space targets are an important issue for spacecraft safety. The large number of space targets makes the workload of orbit calculation very heavy. Being fast in calculation, the analytical method however cannot handle the processing of high-precision observational data. The numerical method on the contrary is good at the orbit determination for such targets. The cataloguing of space targets generally involves the production and calculation of dense ephemeris, for which an effective technique procedure that can calculate the orbit of High Eccentricity with both high accuracy and high efficiency has not yet formed, making the cataloguing difficult. In this paper, we propose a fast processing method that is suitable for the precise calculation of dense ephemeris for orbits with High Eccentricity, and optimize the parameters through numerical experiments. The superiority of the method is verified by examples.     

Research on the Method of Orbit Determination Based on the Self-adaptive Stable Least p-norm Estimate

The traditional least square estimation (LSE) method for orbit determination will not be optimal if the error of observational data does not obey the Gaussian distribution. In order to solve this problem, the least p-norm (Lp) estimation method is presented in this paper to deal with the non-Gaussian distribution cases. We show that a suitable selection of parameter p may guarantee a reasonable orbit determination result. The character of Lp estimation is analyzed. It is shown that the traditional Lp estimation method is not a robust method. And a stable Lp estimating based on data depth weighting is put forward to deal with the model error and outlier. In the orbit determination process, the outlier of observational data and coarse model error can be quantitatively described by their weights. The farther is the data from the data center, the smaller is the value of data depth and the smaller is the weighted value accordingly. The result of the new Lp method is stabler than that of the traditional Lp estimation and the breakdown point could be up to 1/2. In addition, the orbit parameter is adaptively estimated by residual analysis and matrix estimation method, and the estimation efficiency is enhanced. Finally, by taking the Space-based Space Surveillance System as an example and performing simulation experiments, we show that if there are system error or abnormal value in the observational data or system error in satellite dynamical model and space-based observation platform, LSE will not be optimal even though the observational data obeys the Gaussian distribution, and the orbit determination precision by the self-adaptive robust Lp estimation method is much better than that by the traditional LSE method.     

小倾角LEO多星天基平台光学跟踪GEO精密定轨

针对地基卫星测控系统(Tracking Telemetry and Command, TT&C)系统对地球静止轨道(Geostation-\lk ary Earth Orbit, GEO)卫星在空间和时间覆盖上的局限性, 提出小倾角低地球轨道(Low Earth Orbit, LEO)多星组网天基平台对GEO卫星进行跟踪定轨的方法. 根据空间环境和光学可视条件对仿真数据进行筛选以模拟真实的观测场景, 利用光学测角数据, 使用数值方法对GEO卫星的轨道进行确定. 结果与参考轨道进行重叠对比, 在平台轨道精度5 m、测量精度5rq\rq、 定轨弧长12 h的情况下, 两颗LEO卫星对GEO卫星进行跟踪定轨的精度可达到千米量级, 4颗LEO卫星对GEO目标进行跟踪定轨的精度可达到百米量级. 随着LEO组网卫星数量的增加, 定轨精度得到了较大的提高.     

基于CEI测量的GEO目标快速轨道恢复

连线干涉测量(Connected Element Interferometry, CEI)是一种全天时全天候的被动测角技术, 已用于空间目标的跟踪监视. 地球静止轨道(Geostationary Earth Orbit, GEO)卫星需要频繁机动以保持轨位或完成其他任务, 其机动后的快速轨道恢复能力对于监视预警极为重要. 针对基于CEI的GEO短弧定轨和预报, 分析了定轨算法的形亏和数亏, 在附加先验轨道约束的短弧定轨基础上, 提出了轨道半长轴初值的自适应优化方法. 利用亚太七号卫星的CEI仿真和实测数据进行了短弧定轨和预报, 实验结果表明, 采用优化后的半长轴初值, 30min短弧定轨和10min预报的卫星位置分量精度均优于4km, 能够满足非合作GEO目标机动后快速轨道恢复的需求.     

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Observational Data Weighting Method of Combined Orbit Determination of Near-earth Satellites of Bi-satellite Positioning System and its Applications

In the light of the problem of amalgamation and processing of multisource observational data in the combined orbit determination of near-earth satellites of the bi-satellite positioning system, the optimal weighting method of the improved variance component estimation of the two-step systematic error correction of homogeneous observational data is proposed. Analyses show that the multi-source amalgamation measurement model of the heterogeneous observational data essentially is a multi-structure, multi-parameter non-linear regression model, and the optimal weighting method of the combination of model structure characteristic analysis and variance component estimation of the heterogeneous observational data is established. The realization algorithms of the optimal weighting and the combined orbit determination parameter estimation of the two sorts of observational data are designed, and the simulation experiments of the combined orbit determination are carried out by taking the distances among the two satellites and the backup satellite and the homogeneous observational data and the distance between the two satellites and the heterogeneous observational data of satellite sensor angle measurements as the examples. The results of theoretical analysis and simulation calculation show that for the combined orbit determination of homogeneous observational data, the accuracy of orbit determination obtained by adopting the variance component estimation method of the two-step systematic error correction can be more superior than that obtained by means of the traditional empirical weighting method. For the combined orbit determination of heterogeneous observational data, through the introduction of the weighting factor by which the model structure is characterized the accuracies of the combined orbit determination of the near-earth satellite and geostationary satellite are both improved to a certain extent in comparison with the mean weighting mode.     

The Data Depth-weight-kernel Estimation of the Model Error of Satellite Orbit Determination

It is an objective fact that there exists error in the satellite dynamic model and it will be transferred to satellite orbit determination algorithm, forming a part of the connotative model error. Mixed with the systematic error and random error of the measurements, they form the unitive model error and badly restrict the precision of the orbit determination. We deduce in detail the equations of orbit improvement for a system with dynamic model error, construct the parametric model for the explicit part of the model and nonparametric model for the error that can not be explicitly described. We also construct the partially linear orbit determination model, estimate and fit the model error using a two-stage estimation and a kernel function estimation, and finally make the corresponding compensation in the orbit determination. Beginning from the data depth theory, a data depth weight kernel estimator for model error is proposed for the sake of promoting the steadiness of model error estimation. Simulation experiments of SBSS are performed. The results show clearly that the model error is one of the most important effects that will influence the precision of the orbit determination. The kernel function method can effectively estimate the model error, with the window width as a major restrict parameter. A data depth-weight-kernel estimation, however, can improve largely the robustness of the kernel function and therefore improve the precision of orbit determination.     

Determination of the orbital parameters of binary pulsars

We present a simple method for determination of the orbital parameters of binary pulsars, using data on the pulsar period at multiple observing epochs. This method uses the circular nature of the velocity space orbit of Keplerian motion and produces preliminary values based on two one-dimensional searches. Preliminary orbital parameter values are then refined using a computationally efficient linear least-squares fit. This method works for random and sparse sampling of the binary orbit. We demonstrate the technique on (i) the highly eccentric binary pulsar PSR J0514−4002 (the first known pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 1851) and (ii) 47 Tuc T, a binary pulsar with a nearly circular orbit.     

Spacecraft Orbit Determination with The B-spline Approximation Method

It is known that the dynamical orbit determination is the most common way to get the precise orbits of spacecraft. However, it is hard to build up the precise dynamical model of spacecraft sometimes. In order to solve this problem, the technique of the orbit determination with the B-spline approximation method based on the theory of function approximation is presented in this article. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, simulative orbit determinations in the cases of LEO (Low Earth Orbit), MEO (Medium Earth Orbit), and HEO (Highly Eccentric Orbit) satellites are performed, and it is shown that this method has a reliable accuracy and stable solution. The approach can be performed in both the conventional celestial coordinate system and the conventional terrestrial coordinate system. The spacecraft's position and velocity can be calculated directly with the B-spline approximation method, it needs not to integrate the dynamical equations, nor to calculate the state transfer matrix, thus the burden of calculations in the orbit determination is reduced substantially relative to the dynamical orbit determination method. The technique not only has a certain theoretical significance, but also can serve as a conventional algorithm in the spacecraft orbit determination.     

一种适用于窄波束雷达捕获空间目标的等仰角搜索方法

点位预报作为引导雷达寻找、捕获、跟踪目标的基础, 受定轨误差及预报误差的影响, 其精度对窄波束雷达存在不足的风险. 由于沿迹误差是影响点位预报精度的主要因素, 基于沿迹误差补偿的思路, 提出了一种适用于窄波束雷达的过境目标等仰角搜索方法, 在预估的沿迹误差范围内对目标一次过境时在指定仰角上可能出现的所有位置做遍历观测, 从而提高雷达捕获空间目标的成功率. 仿真算例表明, 当点位预报失效时, 等仰角搜索方法仍然能观测到目标.     

A Robust Method of Preliminary Orbit Determination

The preliminary orbit determination with optical angular measure- ments plays an important role in the survey of space objects. The classical method of orbit computation based on the least square error estimation is not robust while outliers occur in the observation. A robust method is proposed by employing the least absolute deviation estimation. The method reduces the problem of orbit determination to a linear programming problem, and gives the variance of the estimation with the bootstrap method. Numerical check shows that the method is effective and robust, and has a high breakdown point.     

月球探测器过渡轨道的短弧定轨方法

论述的短弧定轨,是指在无先验信息情况下又避开多变元迭代的初轨计算方法,它需要相应的动力学问题有一能反映短弧内达到一定精度的近似分析解．探测器进入月球引力作用范围后接近月球时可以处理成相对月球的受摄二体问题,而在地球附近,则可处理成相对地球的受摄二体问题,但在整个过渡段的力模型只能处理成一个受摄的限制性三体问题．而限制性三体问题无分析解,即使在月球引力作用范围外,对于大推力脉冲式的过渡方式,相对地球的变化椭圆轨道的偏心率很大(超过Laplace极限),在考虑月球引力摄动时亦无法构造摄动分析解．就此问题,考虑在地球非球形引力(只包含J2项)和月球引力共同作用下,构造了探测器飞抵月球过渡轨道段的时间幂级数解,在此基础上给出一种受摄二体问题意义下的初轨计算方法,经数值验证,定轨方法有效,可供地面测控系统参考．     

两行根数辅助的SLR单站定轨

单站测距资料定轨的困难限制了漫反射SLR(Satellite Laser Ranging)测距资料的应用.为此,提出利用两行根数模拟多站SLR测距资料作为辅助,实现单站SLR测距资料定轨的方法.该方法对卫星Ajisai单站SLR测距资料定轨并生成5 d预报轨道,误差小于40 m,实现利用单站测距资料的轨道改进,验证了方法的可行性.     

TLE-Aided Orbit Determination Using Single-Station SLR Data

It is difficult to use the single-station satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for orbit determination, due to the singular geometrical distribution of the observations. The single-station data produced by performing the diffuse- reflection SLR on the earth-orbiting space debris are therefore ineffective for orbit improvement. To solve this problem, we propose an orbit determination method by using single-station SLR data in aid of the two-line element set (TLE). For verifying its feasibility, this method is implemented and applied to the orbit determination of the satellite Ajisai, using the single-station SLR data of five passes in one day and the corresponding TLE. And on this basis, the five-day orbit prediction is generated, the result indicates that the errors of predicted positions are less than 40 m. In addition, the potential application of this method in the orbit improvement of space debris is discussed.     

A Constant Elevation Search Method for Narrow Beam Radar to Capture Space Targets

Position prediction is the basis of guiding radar to seek, capture, and track space targets, although there’s a risk of insufficient accuracy for narrow beam radar due to the influence of orbit determination and propagation error. Since the along-track error is the main factor that affects the accuracy of position prediction, this paper proposed a Constant Elevation Search (CES) method for narrow beam radar, based on the idea of along-track error compensation, to seek and capture transit targets. With along-track error estimation, all possible positions on a specified elevation can be observed, thus the success rate of capturing transit targets will be improved. Simulation shows that when the position prediction method fails, the CES method still works.     

基于SLR精密轨道的天文定位精度分析

利用全球卫星激光测距服务系统(ILRS,International Laser Ranging Service)标准点资料对Ajisai卫星进行精密定轨,残差均方根(RMS)优于3 cm,得到该星的精密轨道.进而对长春站40 cm空间碎片光电望远镜获得的Ajisai卫星的天文定位资料进行精度分析,外符合精度约3″左右.单独利用天文定位数据进行轨道改进,内符合精度优于3″.改进轨道的x、y、z坐标3分量在观测数据覆盖范围内的精度在100 m之内.同样地对Jason-1卫星作数据分析,结果和Ajisai卫星精度相当.分析各个弧段的精度变化,发现定标星个数减少,会导致天文定位精度下降.据此提出可以把最少定标星比例作为评定数据质量的参考指标之一.     

The Effect of GPS Ephemeris on the Accuracy of Precise Orbit Determination of LEO Satellite-borne GPS

The satellite-borne GPS receivers dedicated to precise orbit determination are now being carried by more and more low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and the satellite-borne GPS has become one of the main means for the precise orbit determination of low earth orbit satellites. The accuracy of satellite-borne GPS precise orbit determination depends on the accuracies of the GPS ephemeris and the clock error. Based on the orbit determination function of SHORDEIII zero-difference dynamics and using the observational data obtained by the GRACE satellites for the week from 2005 August 1 to 7 as an example, three versions of GPS ephemerides (igs, igr and igu) are used to carry out orbit determination under the same conditions and to estimate the effect of the GPS ephemeris accuracy on the accuracy of orbit determination of low earth orbit satellites. Our calculated results show that the two ephemerides, igs and igr, are equivalent to each other in orbit determination accuracy (about 9.5 cm), while igu is slightly less accurate, at about 10.5 cm. The effect produced by the data of the high frequency GPS satellite clock error on the accuracy of orbit determination is 1–6 cm.     

利用3次方位观测天基初轨确定新方法

提出了一种适用于天基空间目标光学观测的初始轨道确定新方法. 通过对比地基和天基观测的几何构型, 分析了利用天基光学观测数据进行初轨确定时计算收敛到观测平台自身轨道的原因. 基于轨道半通径方程和改进Gauss方程, 推导出了斜距条件方程组的解析形式, 将天基光学观测的初轨确定问题转换为求解关于观测时刻斜距变量的非线性条件方程组的问题. 利用轨道能量约束减小了解的搜索区域, 消除了方程组的奇点. 最后利用天基实测数据验证并分析了非线性条件方程组根的性质, 利用低轨光学观测平台对低、中、高轨和大椭圆轨道空间目标的仿真观测数据验证了方法的有效性.     

基于历史TLE的空间目标轨道预报误差演化规律研究

北美防空司令部(North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD)发布的双行根数(Two Line Element, TLE)是广大航天工作者最常用的轨道根数,与其对应的轨道模型是SGP4/SDP4 (Simplified General Perturbation Version 4/Simplified Deep-space Perturbation Version 4)解析模型.由于TLE中并没有包含相应的轨道精度信息,编目轨道的应用范围受到很大的限制.基于Space-Track网站发布的历史TLE数据和配套的SGP4/SDP4动力学模型,采用定轨标预报的方法统计并生成了大量目标轨道的预报误差,通过对预报轨道的时间区间划分给出了每个目标的预报误差随预报时间变化的拟合系数,并进一步对不同类型轨道预报误差的演化规律和特征进行了分类讨论,给出了4种轨道类型目标的轨道预报误差随时间演化的平均解析模型,为拓展双行根数的应用提供有价值的参考.     

同步卫星短弧定轨

同步卫星受到摄动力的影响,它的实际轨道有一点漂移．卫星需要不断的调轨调姿,以保证其正常运行．为了研究卫星在几小时,甚至更短的时间内的轨迹情况,采用短弧段定轨法．用动力学方法进行短弧定轨,分别研究1小时和15分钟定轨并进行比较,目的是为了在同步轨道卫星变轨后,能尽快地为卫星提供精密的预报轨道．此外,在系列短弧定轨后,得到精密轨道系列,为研究轨道变化的力学因素及研究短弧中卫星转发器时延变化规律等提供依据．     

The Study on the Group Delay Jumping of CE-4 VLBI System

The phase delay software is a key component of VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) orbit determination system in CE-4 mission, which is critical to deep space exploration. When processing X-band DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) signals of probes in the past, the group delay jumping occasionally occurred in the observed scan. This paper consists of two parts. First, according to the VLBI station signal reception and VLBI center data processing steps, we analyzed the frequency, phase, power, and self-correlation spectrum of the signal, and located the influencing factor at the abnormal analog signal of Kunming (KM) station. Second, the group delay jumping was revised by the post-correction method, which was based on the analysis of the abnormal unwrap phase. We used the corrected phase to get the new group delay, and used orbit determination software to verify the effectiveness of the post-correction method, which upgraded the phase delay processing software.