Measuring atmospheric density using GPS–LEO tracking data

We present a method to estimate the total neutral atmospheric density from precise orbit determination of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. We derive the total atmospheric density by determining the drag force acting on the LEOs through centimeter-level reduced-dynamic precise orbit determination (POD) using onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking data. The precision of the estimated drag accelerations is assessed using various metrics, including differences between estimated along-track accelerations from consecutive 30-h POD solutions which overlap by 6 h, comparison of the resulting accelerations with accelerometer measurements, and comparison against an existing atmospheric density model, DTM-2000. We apply the method to GPS tracking data from CHAMP, GRACE, SAC-C, Jason-2, TerraSAR-X and COSMIC satellites, spanning 12 years (2001–2012) and covering orbital heights from 400 km to 1300 km. Errors in the estimates, including those introduced by deficiencies in other modeled forces (such as solar radiation pressure and Earth radiation pressure), are evaluated and the signal and noise levels for each satellite are analyzed. The estimated density data from CHAMP, GRACE, SAC-C and TerraSAR-X are identified as having high signal and low noise levels. These data all have high correlations with anominal atmospheric density model and show common features in relative residuals with respect to the nominal model in related parameter space. On the contrary, the estimated density data from COSMIC and Jason-2 show errors larger than the actual signal at corresponding altitudes thus having little practical value for this study. The results demonstrate that this method is applicable to data from a variety of missions and can provide useful total neutral density measurements for atmospheric study up to altitude as high as 715 km, with precision and resolution between those derived from traditional special orbital perturbation analysis and those obtained from onboard accelerometers.     

惯性/偏振光组合定姿技术研究

惯性导航系统是一种全参数、全天候的自主导航系统,但其姿态误差随时间发散。太阳光在大气中传播时在天空具有稳定的偏振模式,惯性/偏振光组合定姿系统就是利用偏振光中的方位信息实现惯性导航系统姿态角误差的估计。研究了惯性/偏振光组合定姿系统模型,利用跑车试验数据对所设计的组合定姿系统进行了仿真。结果表明:惯性导航系统引入偏振光导航信息后,可以有效地抑制惯性导航姿态角误差发散的趋势,提高姿态精度,满足中等精度姿态参考系统的需求。     

基于FIG-SVR的姿控发动机推力校准斜率预测

为了对某型号姿控发动机高空模拟试验推力现场校准斜率进行趋势预测,提出了一种模糊信息粒化(fuzzy information granulation,FIG)和支持向量回归机(support vector regression,SVR)相结合的时间序列预测方法。借助模糊信息粒化方法将推力现场校准的斜率映射为包含区间最小值Low、中值R和最大值Up 3个参数的模糊信息粒,以降低样本的维数,并以其为输入构建SVR回归模型。预测结果表明,基于模糊信息粒化SVR确定的预测区间较好地反映了推力现场校准斜率的变化趋势。     

Nonlinear filtering methods for spacecraft navigation based on differential algebra

The paper investigates the problem of nonlinear filtering applied to spacecraft navigation. Differential algebraic (DA) techniques are proposed as a valuable tool to implement the higher-order numerical and analytic extended Kalman filters. Working in the DA framework allows us to consistently reduce the required computational effort without losing accuracy. The performance of the proposed filters is assessed on different orbit determination problems with realistic orbit uncertainties. The case of nonlinear measurements is also considered. Numerical simulations show the good performance of the filter in case of both complex dynamics and highly nonlinear measurement problems.     

GSFC DORIS contribution to ITRF2008

The NASA GSFC DORIS analysis center has provided weekly DORIS solutions from November 1992 to January 2009 (839 SINEX files) of station positions and Earth Orientation Parameters for inclusion in the DORIS contribution to ITRF2008. The NASA GSFC GEODYN orbit determination software was used to process the orbits and produce the normal equations. The weekly SINEX gscwd10 submissions included DORIS data from Envisat, TOPEX/Poseidon, SPOT-2, SPOT-3, SPOT-4, SPOT-5. The orbits were mostly seven days in length (except for weeks with data gaps or maneuvers). The processing used the GRACE-derived EIGEN-GL04S1 gravity model, updated modeling for time-variable gravity, the GOT4.7 ocean tide model and tuned satellite-specific macromodels for SPOT-2, SPOT-3, SPOT-4, SPOT-5 and TOPEX/Poseidon. The University College London (UCL) radiation pressure model for Envisat improves nonconservative force modeling for this satellite, reducing the median residual empirical daily along-track accelerations from 3.75 × 10⁻⁹ m/s² with the a priori macromodel to 0.99 × 10⁻⁹ m/s² with the UCL model. For the SPOT and Envisat DORIS satellite orbits from 2003 to 2008, we obtain average RMS overlaps of 0.8–0.9 cm in the radial direction, 2.1–3.4 cm cross-track, and 1.7–2.3 cm along-track. The RMS orbit differences between Envisat DORIS-only and SLR & DORIS orbits are 1.1 cm radially, 6.4 cm along-track and 3.7 cm cross-track and are characterized by systematic along-track mean offsets due to the Envisat DORIS system time bias of ±5–10 μs. We obtain a good agreement between the geometrically-determined geocenter parameters and geocenter parameters determined dynamically from analysis of the degree one terms of the geopotential. The intrinsic RMS weekly position repeatability with respect to the IDS-3 combination ranges from 2.5 to 3.0 cm in 1993–1994 to 1.5 cm in 2007–2008.     

使用变速控制力矩陀螺的航天器鲁棒自适应姿态跟踪控制

 研究以变速控制力矩陀螺群（VSCMGs）为执行机构的航天器姿态跟踪问题。采用四元数描述姿态, 在姿态误差的描述中引入了现时姿态与期望姿态之间的方向余弦矩阵。考虑执行机构模型参数不确定和有外干扰的情况, 姿态误差动力学方程为多输入多输出(MIMO)的非线性系统。基于Lyapunov理论设计了鲁棒自适应控制器, 运用光滑投影算法避免了估计参数陷入奇异。仿真结果表明, 设计的鲁棒自适应控制律明显地缩小了姿态跟踪误差, 很好地解决了外部环境干扰和执行机构由于安装误差或机械磨损造成的轴承方向未对准的问题。     

考虑控制饱和的卫星姿态控制器设计

研究了基于修正罗得里格参数的刚体卫星在控制输入受限时的姿态控制问题。首先提出了一种全状态反馈姿态控制器的设计方案,并通过李亚普诺夫方法证明了闭环系统零平衡点的全局稳定性。然后针对姿态角速率信号不可测量的情形,设计了一种仅依赖修正罗得里格参数信息的输出反馈控制方案。另外,通过在所提出的控制方案中引入双曲正切饱和函数,推导出只需控制参数的选取满足某一限制条件,就能有效地抑制控制输入的饱和问题。仿真结果表明,所设计的控制方案有效、可行。     

挠性卫星轨控期间动力学与姿态控制

卫星轨道控制期间,轨道控制推力会激振挠性太阳帆板,从而也影响卫星的姿态。用拉格朗日方程建立了带有大型太阳帆板的卫星动力学模型,分析了卫星质心运动、姿态运动与挠性振动的耦合关系。根据姿态控制推力器的输出特性,设计了轨道控制期间卫星姿态控制方案。通过数学仿真验证了轨道控制推力对挠性帆板与卫星姿态的影响,验证了轨控期间姿态控制方案的有效性。     

一种偏置动量卫星的三轴姿态控制方法

提出了一种滚动一偏航平面两自由度偏置动量控制方法。在分析某通信卫星平台所受的环境干扰力矩对姿态扰动的基础上,依据Y轴偏置动量大小的影响、构型的角动量包络、动量轮最大角动量变化值和可靠性等参数,与现有的四轮金字塔构型两自由度偏置动量控制进行了比较,其性能更优越。     

基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道方法

由于卫星轨道观测数据中含有非线性影响因素,必然会降低定轨精度。在半参数 回归模型的基础上,应用小波阈值去噪算法估计并消除观测数据中存在的非线性影响因素, 提出了基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道的方法,以提高定轨精度;然后,在理论 上证明了在测量数据存在非线性影响因素的情形下,基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星 轨道方法的定轨精度高于经典的批处理定轨精度;最后,对中低轨卫星应用批处理定轨进行 了仿真。结果表明：基于半参数回归模型的批处理确定卫星轨道方法分离出观测数据中的 白噪声和非线性影响因素,从而可以在观测数据中消除非线性影响因素,提高定轨的精度。