Comprehensive Evaluation of Attitude and Orbit Estimation Using Actual Earth Magnetic Field Data

Deutschmann, Julie K; Bar-Itzhack, Itzhack Y

ISBN 10: 1287287123 / ISBN 13: 9781287287124

Published by Bibliogov, 2013

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9781287287124

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Comprehensive Evaluation of Attitude and Orbit Estimation Using Actual Earth Magnetic Field Data
• Publisher: Bibliogov
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1287287123
• ISBN 13: 9781287287124
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A single, augmented Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), which simultaneously and autonomously estimates spacecraft attitude and orbit has been developed and successfully tested with real magnetometer and gyro data only. Because the earth magnetic field is a function of time and position, and because time is known quite precisely, the differences between the computed and measured magnetic field components, as measured by the magnetometers throughout the entire spacecraft orbit, are a function of both orbit and attitude errors. Thus, conceivably these differences could be used to estimate both orbit and attitude; an observability study validated this assumption. The results of testing the EKF with actual magnetometer and gyro data, from four satellites supported by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Guidance, Navigation, and Control Center, are presented and evaluated. They confirm the assumption that a single EKF can estimate both attitude and orbit when using gyros and magnetometers only.