Autonomous satellite constellation orbit determination using the star sensor and inter-satellite links data

Abstract

A method of autonomous orbit determination for a satellite constellation using a star sensor combined with inter satellite links (ISLs) is studied. Two types of simulated observation data, Three-Satellite Constellation ISLs and background stellar observations by a CCD star sensor, are first produced. Based on these data, an observation equation is built for the constellation joint autonomous orbit determination, in which the simulations are run. The accuracy of this method with different orbital determination models are analyzed and compared with regard to the effect of potential measurement errors. The results show that autonomous satellite constellation orbit determination using star sensor measurement and ISLs data is feasible. Finally, this paper arrives at several conclusions which contribute to extending this method to a more general satellite constellation.