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Improving FermiI Orbit Determination and Prediction in an Uncertain Atmospheric Drag EnvironmentOrbit determination and prediction of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope trajectory is strongly impacted by the unpredictability and variability of atmospheric density and the spacecrafts ballistic coefficient. Operationally, Global Positioning System point solutions are processed with an extended Kalman filter for orbit determination, and predictions are generated for conjunction assessment with secondary objects. When these predictions are compared to Joint Space Operations Center radar-based solutions, the close approach distance between the two predictions can greatly differ ahead of the conjunction. This work explores strategies for improving prediction accuracy and helps to explain the prediction disparities. Namely, a tuning analysis is performed to determine atmospheric drag modeling and filter parameters that can improve orbit determination as well as prediction accuracy. A 45 improvement in three-day prediction accuracy is realized by tuning the ballistic coefficient and atmospheric density stochastic models, measurement frequency, and other modeling and filter parameters.
Document ID
20140008872
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Vavrina, Matthew A. (AI Solutions, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Newman, Clark Patrick (AI Solutions, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Slojkowski, Steven E. (AI Solutions, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Carpenter, J. Russell (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
July 9, 2014
Publication Date
May 8, 2014
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN14296
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD)
Location: Laurel, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: May 5, 2014
End Date: May 9, 2014
Sponsors: Johns Hopkins Univ.
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNJ09HD46C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG10CP02C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
orbit prediction
atmospheric drag
Fermi

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