Angles measurements from optical systems are the primary source of data for maintaining the orbits of high altitude satellites. Radar measurements are used primarily for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Recently it has been shown that the accuracy of the orbit updates using only optical system angles-only data is just as good, if not better, than the performance from radar systems for LEO satellites. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the use of optical angles data with and without laser ranging data in determining the trajectories of missiles. Analytical Graphics, Inc. Satellite Tool Kit is used to model the trajectory of a ballistic missile. Several scenarios are developed for determining the orbit when acquired by sensors providing various combinations of range, range rate and angles data. It is found that the combination of range, azimuth and elevation sensor data yields an orbit determination that has enough merit to be called accurate. The error of the orbit determined by the angles-only data is two orders of magnitude larger than the error of the range and angles measurement. Additionally completed was an analysis of what would happen if the sensors could only track to the maximum altitude of the orbit. As was assumed, the known position of the object drifts ranged from minimal to significant predicated on the final known position. This is indicated by the error ellipsoid. It was again found that the combination of range, azimuth and elevation sensor data until the maximum altitude yields an orbit determination that has enough merit to be called accurate. Also considered was the addition of a second sensor that had the capacity to always track range, azimuth and elevation to increase the time that is afforded to track the object, increasing the overall accuracy of the orbit determination. It is found that the addition of a second sensor increases the fidelity of the angles-only measurement such that the combination of azimuth and elevation sensor data yields an orbit determination that has enough merit to be called accurate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/2506 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Dituri, Joseph |
| Contributors | Alfriend, Kyle T., Danielson, Don A., Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)., Department of Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering |
| Publisher | Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School |
| Source Sets | Naval Postgraduate School |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvi, 59 p. : col. ill. ;, application/pdf |
| Rights | Approved for public release, distribution unlimited |
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