Navigation and Tracking in Space: Analysis and Algorithms

This book focuses on the navigation and tracking of artificial space objects, with emphasis on modelling the dynamics in a wide range of space missions, including: earth-orbiting satellite missions, launch and re-entry missions as well as interplanetary missions. The book guides you in designing suitable estimation algorithms for each type of mission. It also helps you in addressing non-linearity in designing navigation algorithms for space missions, and walks you through the process for choosing estimators for navigation and tracking of space vehicles. You’ll find specific details on earth-orbiting satellite tracking and navigation that helps you determine precise orbit, and will understand how to get navigation and tracking results using the Least Square Estimation and the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for simulated observations. You also learn how to address tracking performance of spacecraft in interplanetary trajectories that are affected by a diverse set of problems, such low signal power, intermittent observations, observations at low rate and delays. Techniques for designing navigation and tracking algorithms to address these problems are delineated. The book also provides in-depth coverage of multi-object tracking, relevant data association and estimation algorithms in the Situational Space Awareness context. MATLAB /Simulink based software is provided for simulation and simulated data set. This is an excellent reference and practical tool for professionals in the field of Guidance, Navigation and Control, along with researchers and advanced students in the field of space vehicle navigation, tracking, guidance and control.