Attitude Estimation for Unresolved Agile Space Objects with Shape Model Uncertainty

The problem of estimating attitude for actively maneuvering or passively rotating Space Objects (SOs) with unknown mass properties / external torques and uncertain shape models is addressed. To account for agile SO maneuvers, angular rates are simply assumed to be random inputs (e.g., process noise), and model uncertainty is accounted for in a bias state with dynamics derived using rst principles. Bayesian estimation approaches are used to estimate the resulting severely non-Gaussian and multi-modal state distributions. Simulated results are given, conclusions regarding performance are made, and future work is outlined.
Presented at the 13th annual Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance (AMOS) Technologies Conference on September 11-14, 2012 Maui, Hawaii. Government or Federal Purpose Rights License. The original document contains color images.