Real time precision orbit determination system
First Claim
1. A method for estimating orbit information of a space system, comprising:
- obtaining first orbit information relating to positions of a plurality of space vehicles at a first time;
predicting, using said first orbit information, second orbit information relating to positions of said plurality of space vehicles at a second time, wherein said second time occurs after said first time;
providing third orbit information relating to positions of said space vehicles at a third time, wherein said third orbit information is different from said first and second orbit information; and
using said second and third orbit information to estimate orbit data for a space system that is not part of said plurality of space vehicles.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for providing highly accurate position estimates for a vehicle in space, in substantially real time. The system includes a Mission Control Center (MCC) that calculates precise orbits for GPS satellites that are in view of the vehicle, using GPS tracking data from the worldwide network of tracking sites. Because the tracking data from the tracking sites is not current when received by the MCC, the precise GPS orbits are "propagated forward in time" by the MCC. The propagated orbit information is uploaded to the user satellite where it is processed in an extended Kalman filter, or similar device, along with the real time output of the on-board GPS receiver, to achieve highly accurate satellite location estimates in substantially real time.
25 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for estimating orbit information of a space system, comprising:
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obtaining first orbit information relating to positions of a plurality of space vehicles at a first time; predicting, using said first orbit information, second orbit information relating to positions of said plurality of space vehicles at a second time, wherein said second time occurs after said first time; providing third orbit information relating to positions of said space vehicles at a third time, wherein said third orbit information is different from said first and second orbit information; and using said second and third orbit information to estimate orbit data for a space system that is not part of said plurality of space vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for estimating orbit information for a space system, comprising:
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means for obtaining first orbit information relating to a plurality of satellites; means for propagating said first orbit information forward in time to obtain second orbit information relating to said plurality of satellites; means for acquiring third orbit information relating to said plurality of satellites, wherein said third orbit information is different from said first orbit information; and means for processing said second orbit information and said third orbit information to estimate orbit data for a space system that is not part of said plurality of satellites. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for determining realtime orbit information of a space system, comprising:
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receiving first position data corresponding to a plurality of external navigation satellites in a first receiver on said space system; receiving second position data corresponding to said plurality of external navigation satellites in a second receiver on said space system, wherein said second receiver is different from said first receiver; and determining, onboard the space system, real time orbit information of the space system using both of said first position data and said second position data, wherein the accuracy of said real time orbit information does not depend on the relative location of the space system with respect to a ground based reference location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for determining realtime orbit information of a space system, comprising:
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first means for providing first orbit information corresponding to a plurality of navigation satellites, said first means including first processing means for processing first orbit data corresponding to said plurality of navigation satellites to generate said first orbit information; second means for obtaining second orbit information corresponding to said space system, said second means including second processing means for processing second orbit data corresponding to said plurality of navigation satellites to generate said second orbit information, wherein said second processing means is different from said first processing means and said second orbit data is different from said first orbit data; and third means for determining realtime orbit information of the space system using both of said first orbit information and said second orbit information, wherein the accuracy of said real time orbit information does not depend on the relative location of the space system with respect to a ground based reference location. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for determining real time orbit information of a space system, comprising:
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obtaining, at a control center, first orbit information relating to a plurality of space vehicles; processing, at said control center, said first orbit information to create second orbit information relating to said plurality of space vehicles; uploading said second orbit information to said space system; receiving third orbit information relating to said plurality of space vehicles directly from said plurality of space vehicles at said space system, wherein said third orbit information is different from said second orbit information; and using said second orbit information and said third orbit information to estimate orbit information of said space system in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification