Eccentric conformance, satellite-position determination module
First Claim
1. An apparatus for tracking a satellite, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor programmed to execute modules for processing orbit data corresponding to a first position of a first satellite to determine spatial coordinates therefor, the processor further programmed to execute an orbital transformation module;
a memory device operably connected to the processor for storing executable and operational data structures, the data structures comprising;
an eccentric conformance module, executable by the processor to apply conformance rules to produce first satellite coordinates as a function of time;
an orbital transformation module, executable by the processor to transform the satellite coordinates into common reference coordinates; and
a parameter module containing the orbit data relating a first satellite position to a parent body position.
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Abstract
The invention incorporates an eccentric conformance module that determines time and position for a satellite. The eccentric conformance module eliminates the necessity of computing an eccentric anomaly for non-circular orbits by relying on a comparison of a circular orbit and application of a general power equation. The eccentric conformance module produces coordinates in a reference frame relating to an eccentric conformance model. The invention resolves these coordinates through transformation to a common reference frame by computing the transformation between the conformance displacement angle and the true anomaly. Calculations derived from the eccentric conformance module are applicable for ground-based and space-based systems. Applications include determination of line-of-sight pointing for antennas and predictions of satellite positions for intercept or rendezvous transfers and for safe orbit trajectories. All such computations are simplified with the use of the eccentric conformance method.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking a satellite, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor programmed to execute modules for processing orbit data corresponding to a first position of a first satellite to determine spatial coordinates therefor, the processor further programmed to execute an orbital transformation module;
a memory device operably connected to the processor for storing executable and operational data structures, the data structures comprising;
an eccentric conformance module, executable by the processor to apply conformance rules to produce first satellite coordinates as a function of time;
an orbital transformation module, executable by the processor to transform the satellite coordinates into common reference coordinates; and
a parameter module containing the orbit data relating a first satellite position to a parent body position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
an input device operably connected to the processor for receiving orbit data;
an output device operably connected to the processor for providing common reference coordinates; and
a telemetry system operably connected to the input and output devices for communicating the inputs to the processor and the outputs from the processor.
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5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a type of orbit path corresponding to the orbit data.
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6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orbit data indicates a common reference and the processor is further programmed to execute an orbital transformation module to transform the orbit data into conformance data and to provide the conformance data to the eccentric conformance module.
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7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the eccentric conformance module to determine second coordinates corresponding to a second position of a second satellite.
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8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further programmed to provide an intercept trajectory from the first coordinates and second coordinates.
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9. A method for tracking a position of a satellite, the method comprising:
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receiving first orbit data corresponding to a first satellite;
providing the first orbit data to an eccentric conformance module, executable to apply conformance rules for producing first coordinates corresponding to a first position of a first satellite at a first time;
providing the first coordinates to an orbital transformation module, executable to transform the first coordinates to common reference coordinates reflecting the first position of a first satellite. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable medium storing data structures for determining the position of a satellite orbiting a parent body, the data structures comprising:
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an eccentric conformance module effective to apply conformance rules to first orbit data reflecting a first satellite position to a parent body position to produce first coordinates; and
an orbital transformation module effective to transform the first coordinates to common reference coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification