A new approach of orbit determination for LEO satellites based on optical tracking of GEO satellites

Abstract Ability of autonomous orbit determination (OD) for a satellite is receiving increasing interests due to its considerable value in engineering application. A new OD approach for low earth orbit (LEO) satellites based on tracking geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites using space-based optical tracking approach is proposed which can improve the autonomy of LEO satellites and reduce their dependence on ground facilities. Based on the information support of Space Surveillance Network (SSN), several GEO satellites are selected as guidance and calibration functions like beacons for LEO satellites equipped with space-based optical (SBO) sensors, as they are called beacon GEO satellites in this paper. LEO satellites can determine their own orbits by tracking these GEO objects without measures of ground facilities, which only need to provide necessary information of beacon objects for them. Unlike traditional space-based observation, long arcs and high-frequency measurements, which are more beneficial to determine orbit precisely, are possibly obtained. This paper focuses on demonstrating the feasibility and performance of proposed approach. To determine orbits, batch least-squares (LS) estimator with Tschauner–Hempel (T–H) equation state-transition matrix to estimate the propagation of initial errors is used. Different scenarios are simulated and results show that tracklet length, measurement frequency, and measurement errors are the main factors that influence the accuracy of OD.