• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2011

A strategy for geostationary orbit (or geostationary earth orbit [GEO]) surveillance based on optical angular observations is presented in this study. For the dynamic model, precise analytical orbit model developed by Lee et al. (1997) is used to improve computation performance and the unscented Kalman filer (UKF) is applied as a real-time filtering method. The UKF is known to perform well under highly nonlinear conditions such as surveillance in this study. The strategy that combines the analytical orbit propagation model and the UKF is tested for various conditions like different level of initial error and different level of measurement noise. The dependencies on observation interval and number of ground station are also tested. The test results shows that the GEO orbit determination based on the UKF and the analytical orbit model can be applied to GEO orbit tracking and surveillance effectively.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2010

Optical observation system provides angle-only measurement for orbit determination of space object. Range measurement can be directly acquired using laser ranging or tone ranging system. Initial orbit determination (IOD) by using angle- only data set shows discrepancy according to the measurement time interval. To solve this problem, range measurement data should be added for IOD. In this study, two-site optical observation was used to derive the range information. We have observed nine geostationary earth orbit satellites by using two-site optical observation system. The determination result of the range shows the accuracy over 99.5% compared to the results from the satellite tool kit simulation. And we confirmed that the orbit determination by the Herrick-Gibbs method with the range information obtained from the two-site observation is more accurate than the orbit determination by Gauss method with the one-site observation. For more accurate two-site optical observation, a baseline should satisfy an optimal condition of length and more precise observation system needed.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2015

We estimated the orbit of the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS), a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite, through data from actual optical observations using telescopes at the Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory (SOAO) of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Optical Wide field Patrol (OWL) at KASI, and the Chungbuk National University Observatory (CNUO) from August 1, 2014, to January 13, 2015. The astrometric data of the satellite were extracted from the World Coordinate System (WCS) in the obtained images, and geometrically distorted errors were corrected. To handle the optically observed data, corrections were made for the observation time, light-travel time delay, shutter speed delay, and aberration. For final product, the sequential filter within the Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) was used for orbit estimation based on the results of optical observation. In addition, a comparative analysis was conducted between the precise orbit from the ephemeris of the COMS maintained by the satellite operator and the results of orbit estimation using optical observation. The orbits estimated in simulation agree with those estimated with actual optical observation data. The error in the results using optical observation data decreased with increasing number of observatories. Our results are useful for optimizing observation data for orbit estimation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.270-278
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• 2014

This paper describes an improvement of space objects orbit prediction. To screen possible collisions between operational satellites and space objects, the TLE (Two-Line Element) was used as pseudo-measurement and than the orbit determination and orbit prediction were performed through the flight dynamics system. For determining the orbits, the state vectors were assumed by a series of TLEs within a certain period. The propagation error was analyzed according to the fitting period and a number of pseudo-observations. In order to find out the improvement of orbit prediction with the proposed method, KOMPSAT-2, 3 having the precise orbit in the meter-level range were first applied. Then the result applied to space objects under the same conditions was analyzed. As a result of the RMS error comparison with the orbit prediction of space object, the precision of orbit prediction was improved by approximately 90% for seven days prediction. The improved orbit prediction of space objects can be utilized in the daily analysis for initial screening of the close space objects at high risk.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2015

In this study, we present the results of orbit determination (OD) using satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for the Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT)-2C by a short-arc analysis. For SLR data processing, the NASA/GSFC GEODYN II software with one year (2013/04 - 2014/04) of normal point observations is used. As there is only an extremely small quantity of SLR observations of STSAT-2C and they are sparsely distribution, the selection of the arc length and the estimation intervals for the atmospheric drag coefficients and the empirical acceleration parameters was made on an arc-to-arc basis. For orbit quality assessment, the post-fit residuals of each short-arc and orbit overlaps of arcs are investigated. The OD results show that the weighted root mean square post-fit residuals of short-arcs are less than 1 cm, and the average 1-day orbit overlaps are superior to 50/600/900 m for the radial/cross-track/along-track components. These results demonstrate that OD for STSAT-2C was successfully achieved with cm-level range precision. However its orbit quality did not reach the same level due to the availability of few and sparse measurement conditions. From a mission analysis viewpoint, obtaining the results of OD for STSAT-2C is significant for generating enhanced orbit predictions for more frequent tracking.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2017

The deep space orbit determination software (DSODS) is a part of a flight dynamic subsystem (FDS) for the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), a lunar exploration mission expected to launch after 2018. The DSODS consists of several sub modules, of which the orbit determination (OD) module employs a weighted least squares algorithm for estimating the parameters related to the motion and the tracking system of the spacecraft, and subroutines for performance improvement and detailed analysis of the orbit solution. In this research, DSODS is demonstrated and validated at lunar orbit at an altitude of 100 km using actual Lunar Prospector tracking data. A set of a priori states are generated, and the robustness of DSODS to the a priori error is confirmed by the NASA planetary data system (PDS) orbit solutions. Furthermore, the accuracy of the orbit solutions is determined by solution comparison and overlap analysis as about tens of meters. Through these analyses, the ability of the DSODS to provide proper orbit solutions for the KPLO are proved.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2016

This paper briefly introduces efforts into space debris modeling towards a better understanding of space debris environment. Space debris modeling mainly consists of debris generation and orbit propagation. Debris generation can characterize and predict physical properties of fragments originating from explosions or collisions. Orbit propagation can characterize, track, and predict the behavior of individual or groups of space objects. Therefore, space debris modeling can build evolutionary models as essential tools to predict the stability of the future space debris populations. Space debris modeling is also useful and effective to improve the efficiency of measurements to be aware of the present environment.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.247-264
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• 2014

In this paper, a brief but essential development strategy for the lunar orbit determination system is discussed to prepare for the future Korea's lunar missions. Prior to the discussion of this preliminary development strategy, technical models of foreign agencies for the lunar orbit determination system, tracking networks to measure the orbit, and collaborative efforts to verify system performance are reviewed in detail with a short summary of their lunar mission history. Covered foreign agencies are European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Indian Space Research Organization and China National Space Administration. Based on the lessons from their experiences, the preliminary development strategy for Korea's future lunar orbit determination system is discussed with regard to the core technical issues of dynamic modeling, numerical integration, measurement modeling, estimation method, measurement system as well as appropriate data formatting for the interoperability among foreign agencies. Although only the preliminary development strategy has been discussed through this work, the proposed strategy will aid the Korean astronautical society while on the development phase of the future Korea's own lunar orbit determination system. Also, it is expected that further detailed system requirements or technical development strategies could be designed or established based on the current discussions.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.333-344
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• 2011

An optical tracking system has advantages for observing geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites relatively over other types of observation system. Regular surveying for unidentified space objects with the optical tracking system can be an early warning tool for the safety of five Korean active GEO satellites. Two strategies of positioning on the observed image of Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite 1 are tested and compared. Photometric method has a half root mean square error against streak method. Also eccentricity method for initial orbit determination (IOD) is tested with simulation data and real observation data. Under 10 minutes observation time interval, eccentricity method shows relatively better IOD results than the other time interval. For follow-up observation of unidentified space objects, at least two consecutive observations are needed in 5 minutes to determine orbit for geosynchronous orbit space objects.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2012

Precise Point Positioning (PPP) has been widely used in navigation and orbit determination applications as we can obtain precise Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite orbit and clock products. Kinematic PPP, which is based on the GPS measurements only from the spaceborne GPS receiver, has some advantages for a simple precise orbit determination (POD). In this study, we developed kinematic PPP technique to estimate the orbits of GRACE-A satellite. The comparison of the mean position between the JPL's orbit product and our results showed the orbit differences 0.18 cm, 0.54 cm, and 0.98 cm in the Radial, in Along-track, and Cross-track direction respectively. In addition, we obtained the root mean square (rms) values of 4.06 cm, 3.90 cm, and 3.23 cm in the satellite coordinate components relative to the known coordinates.