Class
Article
Graduation Year
2019
College
College of Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
Faculty Mentor
David Geller
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
The proposal is to study the efficacy of a new orbit determination method, using gravity gradient measurements, for Low-Earth-Orbiting satellites. Based on the study of gravity gradient measurement error models, and orbit determination estimation techniques, we aim to apply Linear Covariance technique to determine the optimal onboard sensor requirement, and hence intend to improve the accuracy of the given method.
Improvement in accuracy for this innovative technique can help usher a new autonomous satellite navigation system, which will be completely independent of GPS navigation system. Although, the technology involved in measuring gravity gradients has been in use, since 1960s, for many airborne and terrestrial surveys, the technology has matured over the recent years and, the requisite instruments have been improved and upgraded. Because of this, there has been a renewed interest in space applications for this technique. Recent missions like European Space Agency’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) launched in March 2009, and NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) launched in March 2002, are relevant example for this.
Location
Room 154
Start Date
4-13-2017 3:00 PM
End Date
4-13-2017 4:15 PM
Autonomous Navigation using Gravity Gradient Measurements
Room 154
The proposal is to study the efficacy of a new orbit determination method, using gravity gradient measurements, for Low-Earth-Orbiting satellites. Based on the study of gravity gradient measurement error models, and orbit determination estimation techniques, we aim to apply Linear Covariance technique to determine the optimal onboard sensor requirement, and hence intend to improve the accuracy of the given method.
Improvement in accuracy for this innovative technique can help usher a new autonomous satellite navigation system, which will be completely independent of GPS navigation system. Although, the technology involved in measuring gravity gradients has been in use, since 1960s, for many airborne and terrestrial surveys, the technology has matured over the recent years and, the requisite instruments have been improved and upgraded. Because of this, there has been a renewed interest in space applications for this technique. Recent missions like European Space Agency’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) launched in March 2009, and NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) launched in March 2002, are relevant example for this.