Station-keeping manoeuvre detection for autonomous precise interferometric tracking of geosynchronous gatellites

Abstract

The advent of geosynchronous remote sensing missions requires the development of precise orbit determination techniques at high orbits. Geosynchronous satellites require station-keeping manoeuvres to be performed periodically. Dynamical models do not consider artificial forces. Therefore, the tracking system must be able to detect them in order to keep track of the spacecraft autonomously. A compact baseline interferometer is deployed in order to track the signals of opportunity from the ASTRA 19.2?E geostationary constellation. The system is capable of autonomously estimate the trajectory of the satellite for a period of 22 days. Even after artificial orbital manoeuvres are performed. These results show that interferometry is a valid alternative for future geosynchronous remote sensing missions which require precise orbit determination. © 2021 IEEE

This work has been supported by the Spanish Science, Research and Innovation Plan (MINECO) with Project Codes TIN2014-55413-C2-1-P and TEC2017-85244-C2-2-P and by Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu MDM-2016-0600 financed by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, Spain.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (published version)