Batch Unscented Transformation for Satellite Orbit Determination Using A Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)

The batch least square filter is widely used for ground estimations. However, in orbit determination (OD) under inaccurate initial conditions and few measurement data the performance by the batch least square filter can lead an unstable results. To complement weak part of the batch filter, the batch unscented transformation without any linearization process is developed by ACL (Astrodynamics and Control Laboratory) in YONSEI University. In this paper, the batch unscented transformation is introduced and applied to satellite orbit determination using Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) data. Only range of the satellite measured from ground tracking stations is used for measurement data. The results of simulation test are compared with those of the weighted batch least square filter for various initial states errors (position and velocity). Simulation results show that the batch unscented transformation is comparable or slightly superior to batch least square filter in the orbit determination.