<title>Deferred resolution approach to target track processing of midcourse space experiment infrared radiometer data</title>

Abstract

This paper discusses tracking algorithm for post-mission processing of radiometer data from the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) Spatial IR Imaging Telescope. In order to produce tracked target signatures form on-orbit MSX satellite data, track processing algorithms are implemented using a deferred resolution approach for measurement-to- track correlation. This method defers the final association of point source object sighting messages (OSMs) to established tracks until further information is received form subsequent sans. This is accomplished through the use of a track splitting algorithm to decrease the likelihood of miscorrelations at the expense, however, of more extensive logic and longer processing times. Performance is evaluated by comparing results to that of an immediate resolution algorithm using MSX on-orbit measured data as a test case. This effort is funded under the MSX Theater and Midcourse Cooperative Target Experiments task on the Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract with the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.